Patriarch John XIV of Constantinople
Encyclopedia
John XIV, surnamed Kalekas was the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople from 1334 to 1347. He was an anti-hesychast and opponent of Gregory Palamas. He was an active participant in the Byzantine civil war of 1341–1347
as a member of the regency for John V Palaiologos
, against John VI Kantakouzenos
.
a priest
. John came under the patronage of John Kantakouzenos, the chief minister of emperor Andronikos III Palaiologos
and later megas domestikos, who introduced him to the imperial court. In 1334, against the resistance of the Patriarchal Synod
John Kantakouzenos led John Kalekas to his election, first, as Metropolitan
of Thessalonica and, then, as patriarch of Constantinople, where he succeeded Isaias I.
About the year 1337, during the patriarchate of John Kalekas, a Calabrian monk
, Barlaam
, who was the abbot
of the Monastery of the St. Savior in Chora
, learned of the practice of hesychasm
during a visit to Mount Athos
. Barlaam, trained in western scholastic theology
, was scandalized and began to campaign against the practice and its advocate Gregory Palamas
. The dispute grew until in 1341, emperor Andronikos III, a supporter of Gregory Palamas, convened the Fifth Council of Constantinople
at which Patr. John, while supportive of Barlaam, did not resist his condemnation. After his condemnation Barlaam left Constantinople permanently. Thereafter, Barlaam's cause was taken up by Gregory Akindynos. In 1344, in a synod convened by John Kantakouzenos, without the presence of Patr. John Kalekas, Gregory Akindynos was also condemned.
In 1345, having finally committed to the Barlaam party, Patr. John Kalekas convened a synod that excommunicated
Gregory Palamas from the Church and had him imprisoned for three years, until after Patr. John's death in 1347. During the same synod, Patr. John had Bishop Isidore elect of Monembasia, a disciple of Gregory, also excommunicated.
In June 1341, after the death of emperor Andronikos III, two factions emerged at the imperial court that were concerned with the succession to the imperial throne. The factions divided over the regency for the infant co-emperor John V Palaiologos. Aided by the intrigues of Alexios Apokaukos
, the two sides engaged in a Byzantine civil war
that lasted until 1347. After some maneuvering one faction formed around John Kantakouzenos, who was a supporter of Gregory Palamas, and included the provincial magnates from Macedonia and Thrace. The other faction, which seized imperial power, was led by Patr. John XIV Kalekas and Alexios Apokaukos, and formed around Andronikos's widow Anna of Savoy
in a new regency for the young John V Palaiologos. In forming the faction, Anna made Patr. John XIV Kalekas a regent and appointed Alexios Apokaukos an eparchos (urban prefect).
Initially, the regency held the upper hand, but by 1345 John Kantakouzenos, aided by help from Orhan I
of the Ottoman emirate
and the murder of Alexios Apokaukos, dealt the regency a severe blow. In 1346, John VI Kantakouzenos was crowned co-emperor in Adrianople
and entered Constantinople in February 1347. Then, the regency war ended with the agreement that John Kantakouzenos would be the senior emperor and regent for John V Palaiologos until he was old enough to rule on his own.
. It also excommunicated Gregory Akindynos. Isidore Buchiras
, who had been excommunicated by the synod of 1344, was now made patriarch.
Within days after the end of the concilabulum, John VI Kantakouzenos, victoriously entered Constantinople and forced his opponents to crown him co-emperor. One of his first acts was to confirm the deposition of John XIV and to approve the synodal tome that had just been issued against him.
The hesychasm dispute continued through a synod convened by Barlaam supporters that refused to accept Patriarch Isidore before a finally settlement of the dispute came about at a sixth synod in 1351 during the patriarchate of Callistus I.
Byzantine civil war of 1341–1347
The Byzantine civil war of 1341–1347 was a conflict between supporters of designated regent John VI Kantakouzenos and guardians acting for John V Palaiologos, Emperor Andronikos III's nine-year-old son, in the persons of the Empress-dowager Anna of Savoy, the Patriarch of Constantinople John XIV...
as a member of the regency for John V Palaiologos
John V Palaiologos
John V Palaiologos was a Byzantine emperor, who succeeded his father in 1341, at age nine.-Biography:...
, against John VI Kantakouzenos
John VI Kantakouzenos
John VI Kantakouzenos or Cantacuzenus was the Byzantine emperor from 1347 to 1354.-Early life:Born in Constantinople, John Kantakouzenos was the son of a Michael Kantakouzenos, governor of the Morea. Through his mother Theodora Palaiologina Angelina, he was a descendant of the reigning house of...
.
Personal life
John Kalekas was born about the year 1282 in Apros, Thrace. After having grown up in modest circumstances, John was married and had a son and daughter.Career
He was ordainedOrdination
In general religious use, ordination is the process by which individuals are consecrated, that is, set apart as clergy to perform various religious rites and ceremonies. The process and ceremonies of ordination itself varies by religion and denomination. One who is in preparation for, or who is...
a priest
Priest
A priest is a person authorized to perform the sacred rites of a religion, especially as a mediatory agent between humans and deities. They also have the authority or power to administer religious rites; in particular, rites of sacrifice to, and propitiation of, a deity or deities...
. John came under the patronage of John Kantakouzenos, the chief minister of emperor Andronikos III Palaiologos
Andronikos III Palaiologos
Andronikos III Palaiologos, Latinized as Andronicus III Palaeologus was Byzantine emperor from 1328 to 1341, after being rival emperor since 1321. Andronikos III was the son of Michael IX Palaiologos and Rita of Armenia...
and later megas domestikos, who introduced him to the imperial court. In 1334, against the resistance of the Patriarchal Synod
Synod
A synod historically is a council of a church, usually convened to decide an issue of doctrine, administration or application. In modern usage, the word often refers to the governing body of a particular church, whether its members are meeting or not...
John Kantakouzenos led John Kalekas to his election, first, as Metropolitan
Metropolitan
Metropolitan may refer to:* A metropolis* A metropolitan area* A metropole, "mother country", or central part of a colonizing state* Metropolitan bishop or archbishop, leader of an ecclesiastical "mother see"...
of Thessalonica and, then, as patriarch of Constantinople, where he succeeded Isaias I.
About the year 1337, during the patriarchate of John Kalekas, a Calabrian monk
Monk
A monk is a person who practices religious asceticism, living either alone or with any number of monks, while always maintaining some degree of physical separation from those not sharing the same purpose...
, Barlaam
Barlaam of Calabria
Barlaam of Seminara , ca. 1290-1348, or Barlaam of Calabria was a southern Italian scholar and clergyman of the 14th century. Humanist, philologist, and theologian. He brought an accusation of heresy against Gregory Palamas for the latter's defence of Hesychasm...
, who was the abbot
Abbot
The word abbot, meaning father, is a title given to the head of a monastery in various traditions, including Christianity. The office may also be given as an honorary title to a clergyman who is not actually the head of a monastery...
of the Monastery of the St. Savior in Chora
Chora Church
The Church of the Holy Saviour in Chora is considered to be one of the most beautiful examples of a Byzantine church. The church is situated in Istanbul, in the Edirnekapı neighborhood, which lies in the western part of the municipality of Fatih...
, learned of the practice of hesychasm
Hesychasm
Hesychasm is an eremitic tradition of prayer in the Eastern Orthodox Church, and some of the Eastern Catholic Churches, such as the Byzantine Rite, practised by the Hesychast Hesychasm is an eremitic tradition of prayer in the Eastern Orthodox Church, and some of the Eastern Catholic Churches,...
during a visit to Mount Athos
Mount Athos
Mount Athos is a mountain and peninsula in Macedonia, Greece. A World Heritage Site, it is home to 20 Eastern Orthodox monasteries and forms a self-governed monastic state within the sovereignty of the Hellenic Republic. Spiritually, Mount Athos comes under the direct jurisdiction of the...
. Barlaam, trained in western scholastic theology
Scholasticism
Scholasticism is a method of critical thought which dominated teaching by the academics of medieval universities in Europe from about 1100–1500, and a program of employing that method in articulating and defending orthodoxy in an increasingly pluralistic context...
, was scandalized and began to campaign against the practice and its advocate Gregory Palamas
Gregory Palamas
Gregory Palamas was a monk of Mount Athos in Greece and later the Archbishop of Thessaloniki known as a preeminent theologian of Hesychasm. The teachings embodied in his writings defending Hesychasm against the attack of Barlaam are sometimes referred to as Palamism, his followers as Palamites...
. The dispute grew until in 1341, emperor Andronikos III, a supporter of Gregory Palamas, convened the Fifth Council of Constantinople
Fifth Council of Constantinople
Fifth Council of Constantinople is a name given by some to the Quinisext Council of 692, and by others to a series of six patriarchal councils held in Constantinople between 1341 and 1351 to deal with a dispute concerning hesychasm...
at which Patr. John, while supportive of Barlaam, did not resist his condemnation. After his condemnation Barlaam left Constantinople permanently. Thereafter, Barlaam's cause was taken up by Gregory Akindynos. In 1344, in a synod convened by John Kantakouzenos, without the presence of Patr. John Kalekas, Gregory Akindynos was also condemned.
In 1345, having finally committed to the Barlaam party, Patr. John Kalekas convened a synod that excommunicated
Excommunication
Excommunication is a religious censure used to deprive, suspend or limit membership in a religious community. The word means putting [someone] out of communion. In some religions, excommunication includes spiritual condemnation of the member or group...
Gregory Palamas from the Church and had him imprisoned for three years, until after Patr. John's death in 1347. During the same synod, Patr. John had Bishop Isidore elect of Monembasia, a disciple of Gregory, also excommunicated.
In June 1341, after the death of emperor Andronikos III, two factions emerged at the imperial court that were concerned with the succession to the imperial throne. The factions divided over the regency for the infant co-emperor John V Palaiologos. Aided by the intrigues of Alexios Apokaukos
Alexios Apokaukos
Alexios Apokaukos was a leading Byzantine statesman and high-ranking military officer during the reigns of emperors Andronikos III Palaiologos and John V Palaiologos...
, the two sides engaged in a Byzantine civil war
Byzantine civil war of 1341–1347
The Byzantine civil war of 1341–1347 was a conflict between supporters of designated regent John VI Kantakouzenos and guardians acting for John V Palaiologos, Emperor Andronikos III's nine-year-old son, in the persons of the Empress-dowager Anna of Savoy, the Patriarch of Constantinople John XIV...
that lasted until 1347. After some maneuvering one faction formed around John Kantakouzenos, who was a supporter of Gregory Palamas, and included the provincial magnates from Macedonia and Thrace. The other faction, which seized imperial power, was led by Patr. John XIV Kalekas and Alexios Apokaukos, and formed around Andronikos's widow Anna of Savoy
Anna of Savoy
Anna of Savoy, born Giovanna, was a Byzantine Empress consort, as the second wife of Andronikos III Palaiologos.-Family:She was a daughter of Amadeus V, Count of Savoy and his second wife Maria of Brabant. Her maternal grandparents were John I, Duke of Brabant and Margaret of Flanders...
in a new regency for the young John V Palaiologos. In forming the faction, Anna made Patr. John XIV Kalekas a regent and appointed Alexios Apokaukos an eparchos (urban prefect).
Initially, the regency held the upper hand, but by 1345 John Kantakouzenos, aided by help from Orhan I
Orhan I
Orhan I or Orhan Bey was the second bey of the nascent Ottoman Empire from 1326 to 1359...
of the Ottoman emirate
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
and the murder of Alexios Apokaukos, dealt the regency a severe blow. In 1346, John VI Kantakouzenos was crowned co-emperor in Adrianople
Edirne
Edirne is a city in Eastern Thrace, the northwestern part of Turkey, close to the borders with Greece and Bulgaria. Edirne served as the capital city of the Ottoman Empire from 1365 to 1453, before Constantinople became the empire's new capital. At present, Edirne is the capital of the Edirne...
and entered Constantinople in February 1347. Then, the regency war ended with the agreement that John Kantakouzenos would be the senior emperor and regent for John V Palaiologos until he was old enough to rule on his own.
Synod of 1347
A synod was held in February 1347 which deposed the John XIV and exiled him to DidymoteichoDidymoteicho
Didymóteicho is a town located in the eastern part of the Evros peripheral unit of Thrace, Greece. It is the seat of the municipality of the same name. The town sits on a plain and located south east of Svilengrad, south of Edirne, Turkey and Orestiada, west of Uzunköprü, about 20 km north...
. It also excommunicated Gregory Akindynos. Isidore Buchiras
Patriarch Isidore I of Constantinople
Isodore I was the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople from 1347 to 1350. Isidore Buchiras was a disciple of Gregory Palamas.-Early life:Little is known of his early life. Isidore was born in Thessaloniki during the latter part of the 1290s where he became a teacher and spiritual...
, who had been excommunicated by the synod of 1344, was now made patriarch.
Within days after the end of the concilabulum, John VI Kantakouzenos, victoriously entered Constantinople and forced his opponents to crown him co-emperor. One of his first acts was to confirm the deposition of John XIV and to approve the synodal tome that had just been issued against him.
The hesychasm dispute continued through a synod convened by Barlaam supporters that refused to accept Patriarch Isidore before a finally settlement of the dispute came about at a sixth synod in 1351 during the patriarchate of Callistus I.