Patriarch Sophronius I of Constantinople
Encyclopedia
Sophronius I was Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople from 1463 to 1464. The dates of his reign are disputed by scholars in a range from 1462 to 1465.
: the document is probably a forgery, but it confirms us that Sophronius was actually the patriarch. According to Blanchet, who places the reign of Sophronius after Joasaph's, he was Metropolitan of Heraclea before being elected patriarch.
One primary source designates Sophronius with the name Syropoulos. Thus it was conjectured, but not proven, that Sophronius was indeed Sylvester Syropoulos, the Orthodox cleric who participated at the Council of Florence
and who wrote a chronicle of it. Sylvester Syropoulos belonged to the faction which was in favor of the East-West Union of Churches, and he signed the documents of the Council. This fact works against the possible identification of Sophronius with Sylvester Syropoulos; if however he is indeed the same person, it could justify the virtual damnatio memoriae
displayed in the primary sources against him.
, dating it between June 1463 and August 1464.
Other scholars, following Bishop Gemanos of Sardeis (1933–8) and Grumel (1958), as well as the official website of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, propose that Sophronius I reigned before Joasaph I
, however the dates they provide differ only by a few months from the ones mentioned above due to a different suggested length of the second term of Gennadius Scholarius. Blanchet (2001) places Sophronius' reign from 1 April 1462 to summer 1464, directly after Isidore II
and immediately before Joasaph.
Furthermore, there is no consensus among scholars on the length and chronology of the second and third terms of Gennadius Scholarius, which supposedly alternated the patriarchates of Joasaph and Sophronius. For a comparison of the main scholar suggestions, see the List of Patriarchs of Constantinople.
Life
Almost nothing is known about the life and the patriarchate of Sophronius. It is known an act with his name dated August 1464 which certified a cross belonged to Emperor David of TrebizondDavid of Trebizond
David Megas Komnenos was the last Emperor of Trebizond from 1459 to 1461. He was the third son of Emperor Alexios IV of Trebizond and Theodora Kantakouzene....
: the document is probably a forgery, but it confirms us that Sophronius was actually the patriarch. According to Blanchet, who places the reign of Sophronius after Joasaph's, he was Metropolitan of Heraclea before being elected patriarch.
One primary source designates Sophronius with the name Syropoulos. Thus it was conjectured, but not proven, that Sophronius was indeed Sylvester Syropoulos, the Orthodox cleric who participated at the Council of Florence
Council of Florence
The Council of Florence was an Ecumenical Council of the Roman Catholic Church. It began in 1431 in Basel, Switzerland, and became known as the Council of Ferrara after its transfer to Ferrara was decreed by Pope Eugene IV, to convene in 1438...
and who wrote a chronicle of it. Sylvester Syropoulos belonged to the faction which was in favor of the East-West Union of Churches, and he signed the documents of the Council. This fact works against the possible identification of Sophronius with Sylvester Syropoulos; if however he is indeed the same person, it could justify the virtual damnatio memoriae
Damnatio memoriae
Damnatio memoriae is the Latin phrase literally meaning "condemnation of memory" in the sense of a judgment that a person must not be remembered. It was a form of dishonor that could be passed by the Roman Senate upon traitors or others who brought discredit to the Roman State...
displayed in the primary sources against him.
Disputed chronology
The chronology of the reign of Sophronius I is disputed among scholars. Recent scholarship, such as Kiminas (2009), Podskalsky (1988), Laurent (1968) and Runciman (1985), places the reign of Sophronius I after Joasaph IPatriarch Joasaph I of Constantinople
Antony Joasaph I Kokkas was Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople in the 1460s. The exact dates of his reign are disputed by scholars at various times ranging from 1462 to 1465.-Life:Antony Kokkas was born probably to Western parents and he became a monk...
, dating it between June 1463 and August 1464.
Other scholars, following Bishop Gemanos of Sardeis (1933–8) and Grumel (1958), as well as the official website of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, propose that Sophronius I reigned before Joasaph I
Patriarch Joasaph I of Constantinople
Antony Joasaph I Kokkas was Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople in the 1460s. The exact dates of his reign are disputed by scholars at various times ranging from 1462 to 1465.-Life:Antony Kokkas was born probably to Western parents and he became a monk...
, however the dates they provide differ only by a few months from the ones mentioned above due to a different suggested length of the second term of Gennadius Scholarius. Blanchet (2001) places Sophronius' reign from 1 April 1462 to summer 1464, directly after Isidore II
Patriarch Isidore II of Constantinople
-Life:Little is known about the life and the patriarchate of Isidore. His surname derives from the Xanthopoulon monastery in Istanbul which he entered, becoming a hieromonk and later rising to be its abbot. Isidore worked alongside Gennadius Scholarius during the Council of Florence and was one of...
and immediately before Joasaph.
Furthermore, there is no consensus among scholars on the length and chronology of the second and third terms of Gennadius Scholarius, which supposedly alternated the patriarchates of Joasaph and Sophronius. For a comparison of the main scholar suggestions, see the List of Patriarchs of Constantinople.