Patriarch Nicholas III of Constantinople
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Nicholas III Grammatikos or Grammaticus was an Eastern Orthodox patriarch of Constantinople
(1084–1111).
Educated in Constantinople
, Nicholas spent much of his early years in Pisidian Antioch, where it is believed he took his monastic vows. He eventually left the city around 1068 when it was threatened by Seljuk
Turkish raids. Moving to Constantinople, he founded a monastery dedicated to John the Baptist
. In 1084, Alexios I Komnenos
selected him to replace the deposed patriarch Eustratius Garidas.
By nature a conciliarist, Nicholas was immediately presented with a number of delicate and difficult issues. He took the emperor's side in the case of Leo of Chalcedon
, who protested over Alexios' confiscation of church treasures to alleviate the financial strain the Byzantine-Norman Wars
had caused, which was resolved when he presided over the Council of Constantinople (1094)
. He was also prominent in the fight against doctrinal heresy
, for instance Nicholas condemned as heretical the Bogomil leader Basil the Physician
. But he was very cautious in the ongoing conflict between the provincial metropolitans
and the Patriarchate
. In spite of some hostile opposition from the clergy of Hagia Sophia
, he ended up supporting Niketas of Ankyra against the emperor's right to elevate metropolitans
, and exerted a great deal of energy trying to restrict the influence of the Chartophylax
. Nicholas was also very concerned with ecclesiastical discipline. He wrote a monastic Rule for Mount Athos
monastery, while ordering the removal of the Vlachs
from Mount Athos. He also rigorously enforced the regulations around fasting.
Meanwhile, the ongoing political situation in the Byzantine Empire
especially in Anatolia
after the disaster of the Battle of Manzikert
forced Nicholas to seek a union with Pope Urban II, though he was firm in his views about the major contentious issues of the day, principally the Filioque, the azymes
, and Papal Primacy.
Nicholas died in April or May 1111 at Constantinople.
Patriarch of Constantinople
The Ecumenical Patriarch is the Archbishop of Constantinople – New Rome – ranking as primus inter pares in the Eastern Orthodox communion, which is seen by followers as the One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church....
(1084–1111).
Educated in Constantinople
Constantinople
Constantinople was the capital of the Roman, Eastern Roman, Byzantine, Latin, and Ottoman Empires. Throughout most of the Middle Ages, Constantinople was Europe's largest and wealthiest city.-Names:...
, Nicholas spent much of his early years in Pisidian Antioch, where it is believed he took his monastic vows. He eventually left the city around 1068 when it was threatened by Seljuk
Great Seljuq Empire
The Great Seljuq Empire was a medieval Persianate, Turko-Persian Sunni Muslim empire, originating from the Qynyq branch of Oghuz Turks. The Seljuq Empire controlled a vast area stretching from the Hindu Kush to eastern Anatolia and from Central Asia to the Persian Gulf...
Turkish raids. Moving to Constantinople, he founded a monastery dedicated to John the Baptist
John the Baptist
John the Baptist was an itinerant preacher and a major religious figure mentioned in the Canonical gospels. He is described in the Gospel of Luke as a relative of Jesus, who led a movement of baptism at the Jordan River...
. In 1084, Alexios I Komnenos
Alexios I Komnenos
Alexios I Komnenos, Latinized as Alexius I Comnenus , was Byzantine emperor from 1081 to 1118, and although he was not the founder of the Komnenian dynasty, it was during his reign that the Komnenos family came to full power. The title 'Nobilissimus' was given to senior army commanders,...
selected him to replace the deposed patriarch Eustratius Garidas.
By nature a conciliarist, Nicholas was immediately presented with a number of delicate and difficult issues. He took the emperor's side in the case of Leo of Chalcedon
Leo of Chalcedon
Leo of Chalcedon was an 11th-century Eastern Orthodox bishop at Chalcedon who opposed the appropriation of church treasures by Byzantine emperor Alexios I Komnenos between 1081 and 1091.Alexios I was in a desperate situation upon ascending the throne in 1081...
, who protested over Alexios' confiscation of church treasures to alleviate the financial strain the Byzantine-Norman Wars
Byzantine-Norman Wars
A number of wars between the Normans and the Byzantine Empire were fought from c. 1050 until 1185 when the last Norman invasion of Byzantine territory was defeated...
had caused, which was resolved when he presided over the Council of Constantinople (1094)
Council of Constantinople (1094)
The Council of Constantinople of 1094 was convened by the Byzantine emperor Alexios I Komnenos and held in Constantinople at Blachernae palace in order to resolve the case of Leo of Chalcedon.-Background:...
. He was also prominent in the fight against doctrinal heresy
Heresy
Heresy is a controversial or novel change to a system of beliefs, especially a religion, that conflicts with established dogma. It is distinct from apostasy, which is the formal denunciation of one's religion, principles or cause, and blasphemy, which is irreverence toward religion...
, for instance Nicholas condemned as heretical the Bogomil leader Basil the Physician
Basil the Physician
Basil the Physician was the Bogomil leader condemned as a heretic by Patriarch Nicholas III of Constantinople and burned at the stake by Byzantine Emperor Alexius I Comnenus....
. But he was very cautious in the ongoing conflict between the provincial metropolitans
Metropolitan bishop
In Christian churches with episcopal polity, the rank of metropolitan bishop, or simply metropolitan, pertains to the diocesan bishop or archbishop of a metropolis; that is, the chief city of a historical Roman province, ecclesiastical province, or regional capital.Before the establishment of...
and the Patriarchate
Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople
The Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople , part of the wider Orthodox Church, is one of the fourteen autocephalous churches within the communion of Orthodox Christianity...
. In spite of some hostile opposition from the clergy of Hagia Sophia
Hagia Sophia
Hagia Sophia is a former Orthodox patriarchal basilica, later a mosque, and now a museum in Istanbul, Turkey...
, he ended up supporting Niketas of Ankyra against the emperor's right to elevate metropolitans
Metropolitan bishop
In Christian churches with episcopal polity, the rank of metropolitan bishop, or simply metropolitan, pertains to the diocesan bishop or archbishop of a metropolis; that is, the chief city of a historical Roman province, ecclesiastical province, or regional capital.Before the establishment of...
, and exerted a great deal of energy trying to restrict the influence of the Chartophylax
Chartophylax
A chartophylax , sometimes also referred to as a chartoularios, was an ecclesiastical officer in charge of official documents and records in the Greek Orthodox Church in Byzantine times....
. Nicholas was also very concerned with ecclesiastical discipline. He wrote a monastic Rule for 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...
monastery, while ordering the removal of the Vlachs
Vlachs
Vlach is a blanket term covering several modern Latin peoples descending from the Latinised population in Central, Eastern and Southeastern Europe. English variations on the name include: Walla, Wlachs, Wallachs, Vlahs, Olahs or Ulahs...
from Mount Athos. He also rigorously enforced the regulations around fasting.
Meanwhile, the ongoing political situation in the Byzantine Empire
Byzantine Empire
The Byzantine Empire was the Eastern Roman Empire during the periods of Late Antiquity and the Middle Ages, centred on the capital of Constantinople. Known simply as the Roman Empire or Romania to its inhabitants and neighbours, the Empire was the direct continuation of the Ancient Roman State...
especially in Anatolia
Anatolia
Anatolia is a geographic and historical term denoting the westernmost protrusion of Asia, comprising the majority of the Republic of Turkey...
after the disaster of the Battle of Manzikert
Battle of Manzikert
The Battle of Manzikert , was fought between the Byzantine Empire and Seljuq Turks led by Alp Arslan on August 26, 1071 near Manzikert...
forced Nicholas to seek a union with Pope Urban II, though he was firm in his views about the major contentious issues of the day, principally the Filioque, the azymes
Azymite
Azymites is a term of reproach used by the Orthodox churches since the eleventh century against the Latin Churches, who, together with the Armenians and the Maronites, celebrate the Eucharist with unleavened bread...
, and Papal Primacy.
Nicholas died in April or May 1111 at Constantinople.