Patriarch Callinicus IV of Constantinople
Encyclopedia
Callinicus IV born Constantine Mavrikios , was Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople for a few months in 1757 and a writer and scholar.
Callinicus IV is sometime numbered as Callinicus III because his predecessor Callinicus, who was elected in 1726 but died before being enthroned, is sometimes not counted amongst the patriarchs.
in 1713 and in 1728 he moved to Istanbul
. In 1740 he was ordained deacon
and on 28 August 1741 he was appointed Great Protosyncellus
of the Patriarchate. On 23 September 1743 he was appointed bishop of Metropolitan bishop
of Proilavo (i.e. Brăila
, in Romania), a position he kept till 1748 when he returned to Istanbul.
His years in Istanbul were marked by the polemic into the Orthodox community about the need of re-baptized
the converts coming from the Catholic and Armenian
Churches, particularly numerous after the reconquered by the Ottoman Empire
with the Ottoman–Venetian War of the Venetian-ruled Peloponnese.
The supporters of the invalidity of Catholic and Armenian baptisms, and of the consequently need to re-baptize, were the Patriarch Cyril V
supported by some scholars such as Eugenios Voulgaris
and Eustratios Argenti, and a large portion of the populace instigated by the demagogic monk Auxentios. The opposition to the re-baptisms was formed by the larger part of the Metropolitans led by Callinicus. Their position was not due to compliance with the Latins, but they considered the re-baptisms an innovation not envisaged by the ancient canon
s and contrary to the liturgical praxis
.
When the Holy Synod
voted on 28 April 1755 against the positions of Cyril V, the latter exiled the members of the Holy Synod who were contrary to his view. Callinicus was persecuted and had to escape. In 1755 Cyril V issued his formal "Oros (Tome) of the Holy Great Church of Christ" which required the re-baptism in any case for any converts.
In 1756 Callinicus took refuge in the French
embassy in Istanbul, and here he obtained a large amount of money which were given to the Sultan Osman III
and resulted in Cyril's deposition on 16 January 1757 and in his own appointment to the Patriarchate. However his appointment was strongly opposed by the mob, and his enthronement could be celebrated only with the presence of Ottoman soldiers. After the cerimony the mod tried, unsuccessfully, to seize him. This opposition to Callinicus hindered any attempt of him to retire the Oros, and his position was so difficoult that he had to resign 22 July 1757, in favor of Serapheim II
who remained neutral on the issue.
After his resignation Callinicus was exiled to Limnos and later to the Sinai where he stayed in the Monastery of Saint Catherine. In this obligatory residence he worked in the ancient library of the Monastery. In January 1761 he escaped and returned on the slay in Istanbul, where he obtained to be forgiven and in October 1763 he returned to his birth town, Zagora
.
The last period of his life was passed in Zagora, where he founded the local library and devoted himself to patristics
studies and to writing. He died in Zagora in 1791.
Callinicus IV is sometime numbered as Callinicus III because his predecessor Callinicus, who was elected in 1726 but died before being enthroned, is sometimes not counted amongst the patriarchs.
Life
Constantine Mavrikios (Callinicus is his religious name) was born in Zagora, GreeceZagora, Greece
Zagora is a village and a former municipality in Magnesia, Thessaly, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Zagora-Mouresi, of which it is the seat and a municipal unit. The biggest village of Mt...
in 1713 and in 1728 he moved to Istanbul
Istanbul
Istanbul , historically known as Byzantium and Constantinople , is the largest city of Turkey. Istanbul metropolitan province had 13.26 million people living in it as of December, 2010, which is 18% of Turkey's population and the 3rd largest metropolitan area in Europe after London and...
. In 1740 he was ordained 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...
and on 28 August 1741 he was appointed Great Protosyncellus
Protosyncellus
A protosyncellus or protosynkellos is the principal deputy of the bishop of an eparchy for the exercise of administrative authority in an Eastern Orthodox or Eastern Catholic church...
of the Patriarchate. On 23 September 1743 he was appointed bishop of Metropolitan bishop
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...
of Proilavo (i.e. Brăila
Braila
Brăila is a city in Muntenia, eastern Romania, a port on the Danube and the capital of Brăila County, in the close vicinity of Galaţi.According to the 2002 Romanian census there were 216,292 people living within the city of Brăila, making it the 10th most populous city in Romania.-History:A...
, in Romania), a position he kept till 1748 when he returned to Istanbul.
His years in Istanbul were marked by the polemic into the Orthodox community about the need of re-baptized
Baptism
In Christianity, baptism is for the majority the rite of admission , almost invariably with the use of water, into the Christian Church generally and also membership of a particular church tradition...
the converts coming from the Catholic and Armenian
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...
Churches, particularly numerous after the reconquered by the Ottoman Empire
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
with the Ottoman–Venetian War of the Venetian-ruled Peloponnese.
The supporters of the invalidity of Catholic and Armenian baptisms, and of the consequently need to re-baptize, were the Patriarch Cyril V
Patriarch Cyril V of Constantinople
Cyril V Karakallos was Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople for two periods from 1748 to 1751 and from 1752 to 1757.A controversial figure, often blamed for his ideas about the baptism, in 1755 he issued the Oros, a canonical document which, superseding the previous use of accepting Christian...
supported by some scholars such as Eugenios Voulgaris
Eugenios Voulgaris
Eugenios Voulgaris or Boulgaris or Vulgares was a Greek Orthodox educator, and bishop of Kherson . Writing copiously on theology, philosophy and the sciences, he disseminated western European thought throughout the Greek and eastern Christian world, and was a leading contributor to the Modern...
and Eustratios Argenti, and a large portion of the populace instigated by the demagogic monk Auxentios. The opposition to the re-baptisms was formed by the larger part of the Metropolitans led by Callinicus. Their position was not due to compliance with the Latins, but they considered the re-baptisms an innovation not envisaged by the ancient canon
Canon law
Canon law is the body of laws & regulations made or adopted by ecclesiastical authority, for the government of the Christian organization and its members. It is the internal ecclesiastical law governing the Catholic Church , the Eastern and Oriental Orthodox churches, and the Anglican Communion of...
s and contrary to the liturgical praxis
Praxis (Eastern Orthodoxy)
Praxis, a transliteration of the Greek word πρᾶξις, which is derived from the stem of the verb πράσσειν "to do, to act.", means "practice, action, doing"...
.
When the Holy Synod
Holy Synod
In several of the autocephalous Eastern Orthodox churches and Eastern Catholic Churches, the patriarch or head bishop is elected by a group of bishops called the Holy Synod...
voted on 28 April 1755 against the positions of Cyril V, the latter exiled the members of the Holy Synod who were contrary to his view. Callinicus was persecuted and had to escape. In 1755 Cyril V issued his formal "Oros (Tome) of the Holy Great Church of Christ" which required the re-baptism in any case for any converts.
In 1756 Callinicus took refuge in the French
Kingdom of France
The Kingdom of France was one of the most powerful states to exist in Europe during the second millennium.It originated from the Western portion of the Frankish empire, and consolidated significant power and influence over the next thousand years. Louis XIV, also known as the Sun King, developed a...
embassy in Istanbul, and here he obtained a large amount of money which were given to the Sultan Osman III
Osman III
Osman III or Othman IIIText not available was the Sultan of the Ottoman Empire from 1754 to 1757.-Biography:...
and resulted in Cyril's deposition on 16 January 1757 and in his own appointment to the Patriarchate. However his appointment was strongly opposed by the mob, and his enthronement could be celebrated only with the presence of Ottoman soldiers. After the cerimony the mod tried, unsuccessfully, to seize him. This opposition to Callinicus hindered any attempt of him to retire the Oros, and his position was so difficoult that he had to resign 22 July 1757, in favor of Serapheim II
Ecumenical Patriarch Serapheim II of Constantinople
-Life:Serapheim II was born in Delvinë, southern Albania to Albanian parents in the late 17th century. Before he was elected as Patriarch of Constantinople on 22 July 1757 he was Metropolitan of Philippoupolis....
who remained neutral on the issue.
After his resignation Callinicus was exiled to Limnos and later to the Sinai where he stayed in the Monastery of Saint Catherine. In this obligatory residence he worked in the ancient library of the Monastery. In January 1761 he escaped and returned on the slay in Istanbul, where he obtained to be forgiven and in October 1763 he returned to his birth town, Zagora
Zagora, Greece
Zagora is a village and a former municipality in Magnesia, Thessaly, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Zagora-Mouresi, of which it is the seat and a municipal unit. The biggest village of Mt...
.
The last period of his life was passed in Zagora, where he founded the local library and devoted himself to patristics
Patristics
Patristics or Patrology is the study of Early Christian writers, known as the Church Fathers. The names derive from the Latin pater . The period is generally considered to run from the end of New Testament times or end of the Apostolic Age Patristics or Patrology is the study of Early Christian...
studies and to writing. He died in Zagora in 1791.