Neophytos of Chios
Encyclopedia
Patriarch Neophytos of Chios, was Greek Patriarch of Antioch
, from 1673 to 1682.
, 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 the reign of Patriarch Macarios III Zaim
. In 1672 he was appointed bishop of Hama
.
At the death of Patriarch Macarios III in 1672, his nephew, Constantine Zaim, not yet twenty, was elected patriarch with the help of the governor of Damascus
, was consecrated bishop and took the name of Cyril V
. His election was contested by some bishops and by Dositheos, patriarch of Jerusalem
, which 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, who went to Constantinople
where in 1673 he obtained a firman
in his favor from the Ottoman sultan and the appointment to Patriarch by the Ecumenical Patriarch Dionysius IV of Constantinople
. This marked the first direct intervention of the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople in the affairs of the See
of Antioch.
Neophytos anyway was not recognized as Patriarch by all the faithfuls, thus the Patriarchate of Antioch split in two factions which alternatively succeeded to obtain, thank to financial support, the favor of the Sublime Porte. Cyril was granted official recognition three times and Neophitos twice. The fight between the two claimants lasted nine years till 1682 when Neophytos of Chios, because of his debts, decided to retire, leaving Cyril V Zaim as the only claimant. Neophytos retired also from the See of Hama and was appointed bishop of Latakia
with the title of honorary Patriarch. He died in 1686.
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...
, from 1673 to 1682.
Life
Even if the family of Neophytos was originally from ChiosChios
Chios is the fifth largest of the Greek islands, situated in the Aegean Sea, seven kilometres off the Asia Minor coast. The island is separated from Turkey by the Chios Strait. The island is noted for its strong merchant shipping community, its unique mastic gum and its medieval villages...
, he was educated 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...
under the Jesuits. He was the 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:...
and he was appointed vicar in Aleppo
Aleppo
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...
under the reign 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...
. In 1672 he was appointed bishop of Hama
Hama
Hama is a city on the banks of the Orontes River in west-central Syria north of Damascus. It is the provincial capital of the Hama Governorate. Hama is the fourth-largest city in Syria—behind Aleppo, Damascus, and Homs—with a population of 696,863...
.
At the death of Patriarch Macarios III in 1672, his nephew, Constantine Zaim, not yet twenty, 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...
, was consecrated bishop and took the name of Cyril V
Cyril V Zaim
Patriarch Constantine Cyril V Zaim , sometimes known also as Cyril III, was Greek Patriarch of Antioch.-Life:Constantine Zaim was born on about 1655 in Aleppo and he was the nephew of Patriarch Macarios III Zaim, who died in 1672...
. 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...
, which 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, 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 in 1673 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....
. This marked the first direct intervention of the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople in the affairs of 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 Antioch.
Neophytos anyway was not recognized as Patriarch by all the faithfuls, thus the Patriarchate of Antioch split in two factions which alternatively succeeded to obtain, thank to financial support, the favor of the Sublime Porte. Cyril was granted official recognition three times and Neophitos twice. The fight between the two claimants lasted nine years till 1682 when Neophytos of Chios, because of his debts, decided to retire, leaving Cyril V Zaim as the only claimant. Neophytos retired also from the See of Hama and was appointed bishop of Latakia
Latakia
Latakia, or Latakiyah , is the principal port city of Syria, as well as the capital of the Latakia Governorate. In addition to serving as a port, the city is a manufacturing center for surrounding agricultural towns and villages...
with the title of honorary Patriarch. He died in 1686.