Peter the Fuller
Encyclopedia
Peter Fullo was Patriarch of Antioch
(471–488) and Non-Chalcedonian
.
Peter received his surname from his former trade as a fuller of cloth. Tillemont
(Empereurs, tome vi. p. 404) considers that Peter was originally a member of the convent of the Akoimetoi, which he places in Bithynia
on the Asiatic side of the Bosphorus, at Gomon, "The Great Monastery" and being expelled thence for his behavior and heretical doctrine, passed over to Constantinople
, where he courted persons of influence, through whom he was introduced to Zeno
, the son-in-law of Leo I
(457–474) and future emperor (474–491), whose favor he secured, obtaining through him the chief place in the church of St. Bassa, at Chalcedon
. Here his Non-Chalcedonian beliefs quickly became apparent, resulting with his flight to Zeno, who was then setting out for Antioch
as commander of the East (Magister Militum per Orientem).
Arriving at Antioch 463, Peter greatly desired the patriarchal throne, then filled by Martyrius
. He quickly befriended the populace, with whom he raised suspicions against Martyrius as a concealed Nestorian
, thus causing Martyrius' tumultuous expulsion and his own election to the throne. Theodorus Lector
dates this to 469 or 470.
When established as patriarch, Peter at once declared himself openly against the Council of Chalcedon
, and added to the Trisagion
the words "Who was crucified for us," which he imposed as a test upon all in his patriarchate, anathematizing
those who declined to accept it. According to the Synodicon, he summoned a council at Antioch to give synodical authority to this novel clause (Labbe, iv. 1009). The deposed Martyrius went to Constantinople to complain to the Emperor Leo, by whom, through the influence of the Patriarch Gennadius
, he was courteously received; a council of bishops found in his favor, and his restoration was decreed (Theodorus Lector p. 554). But despite the imperial authority, Peter's personal influence, supported by the favour of Zeno, was so great in Antioch that Martyrius's position was rendered intolerable and he soon left Antioch, abandoning his throne again to the intruder. Leo was naturally indignant at this audacious disregard of his commands, and he despatched an imperial decree for the deposition of Peter and his banishment to the Oasis (Labbe, iv. 1082).
According to Theodorus Lector, Peter fled, and Julian
was unanimously elected bishop in his place (471), holding the see until Peter's third restoration by Emperor Basiliscus
in 476 (Theophanes
p. 99). During the interval Peter dwelt at Constantinople, in retirement in the monastery of the Acoimetae, allowed to reside there in return for a pledge that he would not create further disturbances (Theophanes p.104). During the short reign of Basiliscus (October 475 – June 477) the fortunes of Peter revived. Under the influence of his wife, Basiliscus advocated for the Non-Chalcedonians, recalled Timothy Aelurus, Patriarch of Alexandria
, from exile, and by his persuasion issued an encyclical letter to the bishops calling them to anathematize the decrees of Chalcedon (Evagr. H. E. iii. 4). Peter gladly complied, and was rewarded by a third restoration to the see of Antioch, 476 (ib. 5). Julian was deposed, dying not long after.
On his restoration Peter enforced the addition to the Trisagion, and behaved with great zeal against the Chalcedonian party, crushing all opposition by an appeal to the Syrian people, whom he had gained control over. Once established on the patriarchal throne, he was not slow to stretch its privileges to the widest extent, ordaining bishops and metropolitans for all Syria. The fall of Basiliscus brought the ruin of all who had supported him and been promoted by him, and Peter was one of the first to fall.
In 485 Peter again was placed on the throne of Antioch by Zeno on his signing the Henoticon (Theophanes p.115; Theodorus Lector p. 569; Evagr. H. E. iii. 16). He at once resumed his zealous career, expelling Chalcedonian bishops who refused to sign the Henoticon and performing ordinations not recognised by Chalcedonians, especially that of the Xenaias (Philoxenus) to the see of Hierapolis (Theophanes p.115). He was condemned and anathematized by a synod of 42 Western bishops at Rome 485, and excommunicated. He retained, however, the patriarchate at Antioch till his death in 488 (or according to Theophanes, 490 or 491). One of his last acts was the unsuccessful revival of the claim of the see of Antioch to the obedience of Cyprus
as part of the patriarchate, which the First Council of Ephesus had removed from Antioch's supervision in 431.
Patriarch of Antioch
Patriarch of Antioch is a traditional title held by the Bishop of Antioch. As the traditional "overseer" of the first gentile Christian community, the position has been of prime importance in the church from its earliest period...
(471–488) and Non-Chalcedonian
Non-Chalcedonian
Non-Chalcedonianism is the view of those churches that accepted the First Council of Ephesus of 431, but, for varying reasons, did not accept allegiance to the Council of Chalcedon following it in 451. The most substantial Non-Chalcedonian tradition is known as Oriental Orthodoxy...
.
Peter received his surname from his former trade as a fuller of cloth. Tillemont
Louis-Sébastien Le Nain de Tillemont
Louis-Sébastien Le Nain de Tillemont was a French ecclesiastical historian.He was born in Paris into a wealthy Jansenist family, and was educated at the Petites écoles of Port-Royal, where his historical interests were formed and encouraged...
(Empereurs, tome vi. p. 404) considers that Peter was originally a member of the convent of the Akoimetoi, which he places in Bithynia
Bithynia
Bithynia was an ancient region, kingdom and Roman province in the northwest of Asia Minor, adjoining the Propontis, the Thracian Bosporus and the Euxine .-Description:...
on the Asiatic side of the Bosphorus, at Gomon, "The Great Monastery" and being expelled thence for his behavior and heretical doctrine, passed over to 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:...
, where he courted persons of influence, through whom he was introduced to Zeno
Zeno (emperor)
Zeno , originally named Tarasis, was Byzantine Emperor from 474 to 475 and again from 476 to 491. Domestic revolts and religious dissension plagued his reign, which nevertheless succeeded to some extent in foreign issues...
, the son-in-law of Leo I
Leo I (emperor)
Leo I was Byzantine Emperor from 457 to 474. A native of Dacia Aureliana near historic Thrace, he was known as Leo the Thracian ....
(457–474) and future emperor (474–491), whose favor he secured, obtaining through him the chief place in the church of St. Bassa, at Chalcedon
Chalcedon
Chalcedon , sometimes transliterated as Chalkedon) was an ancient maritime town of Bithynia, in Asia Minor, almost directly opposite Byzantium, south of Scutari . It is now a district of the city of Istanbul named Kadıköy...
. Here his Non-Chalcedonian beliefs quickly became apparent, resulting with his flight to Zeno, who was then setting out for Antioch
Antioch
Antioch on the Orontes was an ancient city on the eastern side of the Orontes River. It is near the modern city of Antakya, Turkey.Founded near the end of the 4th century BC by Seleucus I Nicator, one of Alexander the Great's generals, Antioch eventually rivaled Alexandria as the chief city of the...
as commander of the East (Magister Militum per Orientem).
Arriving at Antioch 463, Peter greatly desired the patriarchal throne, then filled by Martyrius
Martyrius of Antioch
Martyrius was Patriarch of Antioch from 460 to 470. A Chalcedonian, his patriarchate was dominated by strife between the Chalcedonians and Non-Chalcedonians....
. He quickly befriended the populace, with whom he raised suspicions against Martyrius as a concealed Nestorian
Nestorianism
Nestorianism is a Christological doctrine advanced by Nestorius, Patriarch of Constantinople from 428–431. The doctrine, which was informed by Nestorius's studies under Theodore of Mopsuestia at the School of Antioch, emphasizes the disunion between the human and divine natures of Jesus...
, thus causing Martyrius' tumultuous expulsion and his own election to the throne. Theodorus Lector
Theodorus Lector
Theodorus Lector was a lector, or reader, at the Hagia Sophia in Constantinople during the early sixth century. He wrote two works of history; one is a collection of sources which relates events beginning in 313, during Constantine's early reign, down to 439, in the reign Theodosius II...
dates this to 469 or 470.
When established as patriarch, Peter at once declared himself openly against the Council of Chalcedon
Council of Chalcedon
The Council of Chalcedon was a church council held from 8 October to 1 November, 451 AD, at Chalcedon , on the Asian side of the Bosporus. The council marked a significant turning point in the Christological debates that led to the separation of the church of the Eastern Roman Empire in the 5th...
, and added to the Trisagion
Trisagion
The Trisagion , sometimes called by its opening line Agios O Theos or by the Latin Tersanctus, is a standard hymn of the Divine Liturgy in most of the Eastern Orthodox Churches, Oriental Orthodox Churches and Catholic Churches.In those Churches which use the Byzantine Rite, the Trisagion is chanted...
the words "Who was crucified for us," which he imposed as a test upon all in his patriarchate, anathematizing
Anathema
Anathema originally meant something lifted up as an offering to the gods; it later evolved to mean:...
those who declined to accept it. According to the Synodicon, he summoned a council at Antioch to give synodical authority to this novel clause (Labbe, iv. 1009). The deposed Martyrius went to Constantinople to complain to the Emperor Leo, by whom, through the influence of the Patriarch Gennadius
Patriarch Gennadius I of Constantinople
Saint Gennadius,in Greek Άγιος Γεννάδιος,was the twenty-first Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople . Gennadius is seen to have been a learnt writer and followed the Antiochene school of literal exegesis although little writings has been left about him...
, he was courteously received; a council of bishops found in his favor, and his restoration was decreed (Theodorus Lector p. 554). But despite the imperial authority, Peter's personal influence, supported by the favour of Zeno, was so great in Antioch that Martyrius's position was rendered intolerable and he soon left Antioch, abandoning his throne again to the intruder. Leo was naturally indignant at this audacious disregard of his commands, and he despatched an imperial decree for the deposition of Peter and his banishment to the Oasis (Labbe, iv. 1082).
According to Theodorus Lector, Peter fled, and Julian
Julian of Antioch
Saint Julian of Antioch is venerated as a Christian martyr of the fourth century. His date of death is given as 305 AD . He is sometimes confused with another saint of the same name.Of senatorial rank, he was killed during the persecutions of Diocletian...
was unanimously elected bishop in his place (471), holding the see until Peter's third restoration by Emperor Basiliscus
Basiliscus
Basiliscus was Eastern Roman Emperor from 475 to 476. A member of the House of Leo, he came to power when Emperor Zeno had been forced out of Constantinople by a revolt....
in 476 (Theophanes
Theophanes
-Saints:*Theodorus and Theophanes , called the Grapti, proponents of the veneration of images during the second Iconoclastic controversy*Theophanes the Confessor Byzantine 8th-9th century historian*Theophan the Recluse Russian saint...
p. 99). During the interval Peter dwelt at Constantinople, in retirement in the monastery of the Acoimetae, allowed to reside there in return for a pledge that he would not create further disturbances (Theophanes p.104). During the short reign of Basiliscus (October 475 – June 477) the fortunes of Peter revived. Under the influence of his wife, Basiliscus advocated for the Non-Chalcedonians, recalled Timothy Aelurus, Patriarch of Alexandria
Patriarch of Alexandria
The Patriarch of Alexandria is the Archbishop of Alexandria and Cairo, Egypt. Historically, this office has included the designation of Pope , and did so earlier than that of the Bishop of Rome...
, from exile, and by his persuasion issued an encyclical letter to the bishops calling them to anathematize the decrees of Chalcedon (Evagr. H. E. iii. 4). Peter gladly complied, and was rewarded by a third restoration to the see of Antioch, 476 (ib. 5). Julian was deposed, dying not long after.
On his restoration Peter enforced the addition to the Trisagion, and behaved with great zeal against the Chalcedonian party, crushing all opposition by an appeal to the Syrian people, whom he had gained control over. Once established on the patriarchal throne, he was not slow to stretch its privileges to the widest extent, ordaining bishops and metropolitans for all Syria. The fall of Basiliscus brought the ruin of all who had supported him and been promoted by him, and Peter was one of the first to fall.
In 485 Peter again was placed on the throne of Antioch by Zeno on his signing the Henoticon (Theophanes p.115; Theodorus Lector p. 569; Evagr. H. E. iii. 16). He at once resumed his zealous career, expelling Chalcedonian bishops who refused to sign the Henoticon and performing ordinations not recognised by Chalcedonians, especially that of the Xenaias (Philoxenus) to the see of Hierapolis (Theophanes p.115). He was condemned and anathematized by a synod of 42 Western bishops at Rome 485, and excommunicated. He retained, however, the patriarchate at Antioch till his death in 488 (or according to Theophanes, 490 or 491). One of his last acts was the unsuccessful revival of the claim of the see of Antioch to the obedience of Cyprus
Cyprus
Cyprus , officially the Republic of Cyprus , is a Eurasian island country, member of the European Union, in the Eastern Mediterranean, east of Greece, south of Turkey, west of Syria and north of Egypt. It is the third largest island in the Mediterranean Sea.The earliest known human activity on the...
as part of the patriarchate, which the First Council of Ephesus had removed from Antioch's supervision in 431.