Cyril V Zaim
Encyclopedia
Patriarch Constantine Cyril V Zaim (about 1655 – 1720), sometimes known also as Cyril III, was Greek Patriarch of Antioch
.
and he was the nephew of Patriarch Macarios III Zaim
, who died in 1672. Immediately after, Constantine Zaim was elected patriarch with the help of the governor of Damascus
, and on July 2, 1672 he was consecrated bishop by Gregory of Bosra
, Leonce (Lawandius) of Saidnaya
and other two bishops, and enthroned taking the name of Cyril V. His election was contested by some bishops and by Dositheos, patriarch of Jerusalem
, who considered his election to be null pointing out that Cyril Zaim was not in the legal age to be appointed bishop. This party supported Neophytos of Chios
, nephew of previous Patriarch Euthymius III of Chios
, who went to Constantinople
where he obtained a firman
in his favor from the Ottoman sultan and the appointment to Patriarch by the Ecumenical Patriarch Dionysius IV of Constantinople
, thus splitting the Patriarchate of Antioch in two factions. In 1682 Neophytos of Chios, because of his debts, decided to retire, leaving Cyril V Zaim as the only claimant.
This situation lasted not for long: the next contender of the patriarchal throne was Athanasius Dabbas
who was supported by the Franciscan friars (who opposed Cyril Zaim, charged of simony
) and by his maternal uncle Michael Khayat, very influential with the Sublime Porte. In 1685 Michael Khayat succeeded to get from the Ottoman Empire
a firman
that appointed Athanasius Dabbas as Patriarch of the Melkite Church. Thus on July 5, 1685 Athanasius Dabbas was consecrated bishop and enthroned as Patriarch with the name of Athanasius III.
The next nine years were marked by the conflict between the two claiming Patriarchs, Cyril V Zaim and Athanasius III Dabbas. The fight ended on October 1694 when the two rivals came to an agreement after the arbitration of Salmon, an Aleppian Jew. The terms of the agreement were: Athanasius recognized Cyril as Patriarch in change of 13.000 Écus, the appointment to the See
of Aleppo and the right to succession at Cyril's death. This agreement was judged in 1798 null by the Vatican
, which continued to consider as Patriarch Athanasius, who in 1687 made a Roman Catholic profession of faith.
In 1716 the reigning Patriarch Cyril V Zaim made he too a Roman Catholic profession of faith and he was received in communion
with Rome on May 9, 1718, He died in Damascus
on 16 January 1720, and he was succeeded by Athanasius III Dabbas.
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...
.
Life
Constantine Zaim was born on about 1655 in AleppoAleppo
Aleppo is the largest city in Syria and the capital of Aleppo Governorate, the most populous Syrian governorate. With an official population of 2,301,570 , expanding to over 2.5 million in the metropolitan area, it is also one of the largest cities in the Levant...
and he was the nephew of Patriarch Macarios III Zaim
Macarios III Zaim
Patriarch Yousef Yuhanna Meletios Macarios III Zaim was Melkite Greek Patriarch of Antioch from 1647 to 1672. He led a period of blossoming of his Church and he is also remembered for his travels in Russia and for his involvement in the reforms of Russian Patriarch Nikon.-Life:Yousef Zaim was born...
, who died in 1672. Immediately after, Constantine Zaim was elected patriarch with the help of the governor of Damascus
Damascus
Damascus , commonly known in Syria as Al Sham , and as the City of Jasmine , is the capital and the second largest city of Syria after Aleppo, both are part of the country's 14 governorates. In addition to being one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world, Damascus is a major...
, and on July 2, 1672 he was consecrated bishop by Gregory of Bosra
Bosra
Bosra , also known as Bostra, Busrana, Bozrah, Bozra, Busra Eski Şam, Busra ash-Sham, and Nova Trajana Bostra, is an ancient city administratively belonging to the Daraa Governorate in southern Syria...
, Leonce (Lawandius) of Saidnaya
Saidnaya
Saidnaya is a city located in the mountains, 1500 metres above sea level, north of the city of Damascus in Syria and was one of the episcopal cities of the ancient Patriarchate of Antioch...
and other two bishops, and enthroned taking the name of Cyril V. His election was contested by some bishops and by Dositheos, patriarch of Jerusalem
Dositheos (patriarch of Jerusalem)
Dositheos II Notarius of Jerusalem was the Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem between the years 1669-1707 and a theologian of the Orthodox Church. He was known for standing against influences of the Roman Catholic and Protestant Churches. He convened the Synod of Jerusalem to counter the...
, who considered his election to be null pointing out that Cyril Zaim was not in the legal age to be appointed bishop. This party supported Neophytos of Chios
Neophytos of Chios
Patriarch Neophytos of Chios, was Greek Patriarch of Antioch, from 1673 to 1682.-Life:Even if the family of Neophytos was originally from Chios, he was educated in Damascus under the Jesuits. He was the nephew of previous Patriarch Euthymius III of Chios and he was appointed vicar in Aleppo under...
, nephew of previous Patriarch Euthymius III of Chios
Euthymius III of Chios
Patriarch Meletios Euthymius III of Chios , sometimes known also as Euthymius IV, was Melkite Greek Patriarch of Antioch from 1635 to 1647.-Life:...
, who went 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 obtained a firman
Firman
A firman is a royal mandate or decree issued by a sovereign in certain historical Islamic states, including the Ottoman Empire, Mughal Empire, State of Hyderabad, and Iran under Shah Mohammed Reza Pahlavi. The word firman comes from the meaning "decree" or "order"...
in his favor from the Ottoman sultan and the appointment to Patriarch by the Ecumenical Patriarch Dionysius IV of Constantinople
Ecumenical Patriarch Dionysius IV of Constantinople
Dionysius IV Mouselimes was Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople five times, in 1671-1673, 1676-1679, 1682-1684, 1686-1687 and 1693-1694....
, thus splitting the Patriarchate of Antioch in two factions. In 1682 Neophytos of Chios, because of his debts, decided to retire, leaving Cyril V Zaim as the only claimant.
This situation lasted not for long: the next contender of the patriarchal throne was Athanasius Dabbas
Athanasius III Dabbas
Patriarch Paul Procopius Athanasius III Dabbas , sometimes known also as Athanasius IV, was the last Greek Patriarch of Antioch before the 1724 split which divided the Melkite Church between the Melkite Greek Catholic Church and the Greek Orthodox Church of Antioch....
who was supported by the Franciscan friars (who opposed Cyril Zaim, charged of simony
Simony
Simony is the act of paying for sacraments and consequently for holy offices or for positions in the hierarchy of a church, named after Simon Magus , who appears in the Acts of the Apostles 8:9-24...
) and by his maternal uncle Michael Khayat, very influential with the Sublime Porte. In 1685 Michael Khayat succeeded to get from 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...
a firman
Firman
A firman is a royal mandate or decree issued by a sovereign in certain historical Islamic states, including the Ottoman Empire, Mughal Empire, State of Hyderabad, and Iran under Shah Mohammed Reza Pahlavi. The word firman comes from the meaning "decree" or "order"...
that appointed Athanasius Dabbas as Patriarch of the Melkite Church. Thus on July 5, 1685 Athanasius Dabbas was consecrated bishop and enthroned as Patriarch with the name of Athanasius III.
The next nine years were marked by the conflict between the two claiming Patriarchs, Cyril V Zaim and Athanasius III Dabbas. The fight ended on October 1694 when the two rivals came to an agreement after the arbitration of Salmon, an Aleppian Jew. The terms of the agreement were: Athanasius recognized Cyril as Patriarch in change of 13.000 Écus, the appointment to 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...
of Aleppo and the right to succession at Cyril's death. This agreement was judged in 1798 null by the Vatican
Holy See
The Holy See is the episcopal jurisdiction of the Catholic Church in Rome, in which its Bishop is commonly known as the Pope. It is the preeminent episcopal see of the Catholic Church, forming the central government of the Church. As such, diplomatically, and in other spheres the Holy See acts and...
, which continued to consider as Patriarch Athanasius, who in 1687 made a Roman Catholic profession of faith.
In 1716 the reigning Patriarch Cyril V Zaim made he too a Roman Catholic profession of faith and he was received in communion
Full communion
In Christian ecclesiology, full communion is a relationship between church organizations or groups that mutually recognize their sharing the essential doctrines....
with Rome on May 9, 1718, He died in Damascus
Damascus
Damascus , commonly known in Syria as Al Sham , and as the City of Jasmine , is the capital and the second largest city of Syria after Aleppo, both are part of the country's 14 governorates. In addition to being one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world, Damascus is a major...
on 16 January 1720, and he was succeeded by Athanasius III Dabbas.