Patriarch Theoleptus II of Constantinople
Encyclopedia
Theoleptus II was Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople from 1585 to 1586.
of Philippopolis
and although he was been helped by Patriarch Jeremias II
, he conspired against him, leaguing with Pachomius II
. When Pachomius was deposed, Theoleptus was appointed Patriarch in his place, on 16 February 1585, and he was formally enthroned in March 1585 by the Patriarchs of Alexandria
and Antioch.
In May 1586, while Theoleptus was travelling in Moldavia
and Wallachia
to raise funds, Nicephorus (died 1596), a deacon
of the exiled Patriarch Jeremias, managed to dethrone him. Nicephorus became locum tenens of the throne until April 1587, when Jeremias II was re-elected o the Patriarchate even though he was absent from Istanbul in a long travel to Ukraine
and Russia
. Jeremias was informed of his re-election only in 1589 in Moldova
, when he was on the way back to Istanbul; he arrived there in 1590. In the meantime the deacon Nicephorus went on governing the Church in name of Jeremias. The term of Nicephorus was shortly interrupted for about ten days by the deacon Dionysios (later Metropolitan of Larissa, died 1611).
After April 1587, a synod
al decision pardoned Theoleptus and sent him to Iberia
to raise money for the indebted Church. In 1587 Theoleptus adopted a signet for the Soumela Monastery, but it is not known whether it was lawfully or unlawfully issued. Finally, it is known that Theoleptus was reconciled with Jeremias II and that he helped the government of the Church until 1590. His fate after that is unknown.
Theoleptus was the last Patriarch who had the see
in the Pammakaristos Church
, which was converted into a mosque
in 1586. The Patriarchate moved on to the poor Church of Theotokos Paramythia (popularly known as "Vlach Saray"), where it remained for eleven years, until 1597.
Life
Theoleptus was a nephew of Patriarch Metrophanes III. He became MetropolitanMetropolitan 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...
of Philippopolis
Philippopolis
The term Philippopolis , which translates as "Philip's Town," may refer to the following cities:*Plovdiv, Bulgaria *Shahba, Syria...
and although he was been helped by Patriarch Jeremias II
Patriarch Jeremias II of Constantinople
-External links:**...
, he conspired against him, leaguing with Pachomius II
Patriarch Pachomius II of Constantinople
Pachomius II Patestos was Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople from 1584 to 1585. He is sometimes considered an usurper.-Life:16th-century Greek sources show an extended bias against Pachomius: he is labeled as "dissolute" by Pseudo-Dorotheos and Leontios Eustrakios stated that he "inflicted...
. When Pachomius was deposed, Theoleptus was appointed Patriarch in his place, on 16 February 1585, and he was formally enthroned in March 1585 by the Patriarchs of Alexandria
Greek Orthodox Church of Alexandria
The Greek Orthodox Church of Alexandria, also known as the Patriarchate of Alexandria and All Africa is an autocephalous Greek Orthodox Church within the wider communion of Orthodox Christianity.Officially, it is called the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Alexandria to distinguish it from the...
and Antioch.
In May 1586, while Theoleptus was travelling in Moldavia
Moldavia
Moldavia is a geographic and historical region and former principality in Eastern Europe, corresponding to the territory between the Eastern Carpathians and the Dniester river...
and Wallachia
Wallachia
Wallachia or Walachia is a historical and geographical region of Romania. It is situated north of the Danube and south of the Southern Carpathians...
to raise funds, Nicephorus (died 1596), a deacon
Deacon
Deacon is a ministry in the Christian Church that is generally associated with service of some kind, but which varies among theological and denominational traditions...
of the exiled Patriarch Jeremias, managed to dethrone him. Nicephorus became locum tenens of the throne until April 1587, when Jeremias II was re-elected o the Patriarchate even though he was absent from Istanbul in a long travel to Ukraine
Ukraine
Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It has an area of 603,628 km², making it the second largest contiguous country on the European continent, after Russia...
and Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
. Jeremias was informed of his re-election only in 1589 in Moldova
Moldova
Moldova , officially the Republic of Moldova is a landlocked state in Eastern Europe, located between Romania to the West and Ukraine to the North, East and South. It declared itself an independent state with the same boundaries as the preceding Moldavian Soviet Socialist Republic in 1991, as part...
, when he was on the way back to Istanbul; he arrived there in 1590. In the meantime the deacon Nicephorus went on governing the Church in name of Jeremias. The term of Nicephorus was shortly interrupted for about ten days by the deacon Dionysios (later Metropolitan of Larissa, died 1611).
After April 1587, a 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...
al decision pardoned Theoleptus and sent him to Iberia
Georgia (country)
Georgia is a sovereign state in the Caucasus region of Eurasia. Located at the crossroads of Western Asia and Eastern Europe, it is bounded to the west by the Black Sea, to the north by Russia, to the southwest by Turkey, to the south by Armenia, and to the southeast by Azerbaijan. The capital of...
to raise money for the indebted Church. In 1587 Theoleptus adopted a signet for the Soumela Monastery, but it is not known whether it was lawfully or unlawfully issued. Finally, it is known that Theoleptus was reconciled with Jeremias II and that he helped the government of the Church until 1590. His fate after that is unknown.
Theoleptus was the last Patriarch who had the see
Episcopal See
An episcopal see is, in the original sense, the official seat of a bishop. This seat, which is also referred to as the bishop's cathedra, is placed in the bishop's principal church, which is therefore called the bishop's cathedral...
in the Pammakaristos Church
Pammakaristos Church
Pammakaristos Church, also known as the Church of Theotokos Pammakaristos , in 1591 converted into a mosque and known as Fethiye Mosque and today partly a museum, is one of the most famous Byzantine churches in Istanbul, Turkey...
, which was converted into a mosque
Mosque
A mosque is a place of worship for followers of Islam. The word is likely to have entered the English language through French , from Portuguese , from Spanish , and from Berber , ultimately originating in — . The Arabic word masjid literally means a place of prostration...
in 1586. The Patriarchate moved on to the poor Church of Theotokos Paramythia (popularly known as "Vlach Saray"), where it remained for eleven years, until 1597.