Constantine II the Woolmaker
Encyclopedia
Constantine II the Woolmaker was the Catholicos
of the Armenian Apostolic Church
between 1286 and 1289, and then again between 1307 and 1322.
He was from the village of Catuk, but as he was educated in Sis
he was called Sisetzi. He was also surnamed Pronagorz, or Woolmaker. He came to the pontifical throne on Good Friday
of 1286. A year later King Leo II of Armenia died and was succeeded by his son Hetoum II. Two years later a great disagreement took place between the King and Catholicos, which grew to the point where the king convened a meeting of the clergy which deposed Constantine. He was banished after reigning for three years.
Almost two decades later, upon the death of Gregory VII of Cilicia
, a meeting was called by King Levon III to discuss new church regulations proposed by the recently deceased Catholicos. At this same meeting Constantine II was reinstated as Catholicos. Towards the end of his second reign the Mamalukes, with their allies the Turks
, marched into Cilicia and laid siege to the region. Much of it was left in desolation and many were carried away into captivity. Constantine wrote to Pope John XXII
for aid, to which he responded with consolation and some money. Scythian troops were sent to protect Cilicia but before they arrived the region was invaded again and much of the Armenian army was killed fighting them. Constantine was very distressed by these events and died, in 1322.
Catholicos
Catholicos, plural Catholicoi, is a title used for the head of certain churches in some Eastern Christian traditions. The title implies autocephaly and in some cases is borne by the designated head of an autonomous church, in which case the holder might have other titles such as Patriarch...
of the Armenian Apostolic Church
Armenian Apostolic Church
The Armenian Apostolic Church is the world's oldest National Church, is part of Oriental Orthodoxy, and is one of the most ancient Christian communities. Armenia was the first country to adopt Christianity as its official religion in 301 AD, in establishing this church...
between 1286 and 1289, and then again between 1307 and 1322.
He was from the village of Catuk, but as he was educated in Sis
Sis
- Places :* Sis * Sis, Armenia, a town* Sis, Azerbaijan, a village* Sis, Iran, a city* Kozan, Adana, Sis in Armenian* Mountains of Sis, a range of the Pre-Pyrenees- Other :...
he was called Sisetzi. He was also surnamed Pronagorz, or Woolmaker. He came to the pontifical throne on Good Friday
Good Friday
Good Friday , is a religious holiday observed primarily by Christians commemorating the crucifixion of Jesus Christ and his death at Calvary. The holiday is observed during Holy Week as part of the Paschal Triduum on the Friday preceding Easter Sunday, and may coincide with the Jewish observance of...
of 1286. A year later King Leo II of Armenia died and was succeeded by his son Hetoum II. Two years later a great disagreement took place between the King and Catholicos, which grew to the point where the king convened a meeting of the clergy which deposed Constantine. He was banished after reigning for three years.
Almost two decades later, upon the death of Gregory VII of Cilicia
Gregory VII of Cilicia
Gregory VII was the Catholicos of the Armenian Apostolic Church between 1293 and 1307.Gregory succeeded Stephen IV who died in captivity in Egypt. The location of the Holy See at Rumkale had recently been destroyed by the Mamalukes invasion and so Gregory moved the See to Sis...
, a meeting was called by King Levon III to discuss new church regulations proposed by the recently deceased Catholicos. At this same meeting Constantine II was reinstated as Catholicos. Towards the end of his second reign the Mamalukes, with their allies the Turks
Turkish people
Turkish people, also known as the "Turks" , are an ethnic group primarily living in Turkey and in the former lands of the Ottoman Empire where Turkish minorities had been established in Bulgaria, Cyprus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Greece, Kosovo, Macedonia, and Romania...
, marched into Cilicia and laid siege to the region. Much of it was left in desolation and many were carried away into captivity. Constantine wrote to Pope John XXII
Pope John XXII
Pope John XXII , born Jacques Duèze , was pope from 1316 to 1334. He was the second Pope of the Avignon Papacy , elected by a conclave in Lyon assembled by Philip V of France...
for aid, to which he responded with consolation and some money. Scythian troops were sent to protect Cilicia but before they arrived the region was invaded again and much of the Armenian army was killed fighting them. Constantine was very distressed by these events and died, in 1322.