Patriarch Gregory III of Constantinople
Encyclopedia
Patriarch Gregory III, surnamed Mammis or Μammas, was Ecumenical Patriarch during the period 1443-1450. Few things are known about his life and his patriarchate. Not even his surname is certain, with the names Mammis or Mammas being probably mocking appellations. In the generally unreliable Chronicum Majus of George Sphrantzes
, it is recorded that he came from Crete
, and that his real name was
Melissenos. In other works he is referred to as Melissenos-Strategopoulos.
He was tonsured as a monk in ca. 1420, and is considered to have been the confessor of Emperor John VIII Palaiologos
. He was a supporter of the Union with the Catholic Church and participated in the Council of Ferra-Florence. He was elected Patriarch after the death of the also-unionist Patriarch Metrophanes II
.
In 1450, he was forced to abdicate by the opposition of the anti-unionists to his policies, and went into exile in Rome
in August 1451. He was cordially received by Pope Nicholas V
, who aided him financially and tried to pressure the Byzantine emperor to restore him on the patriarchal throne. Indeed, the pro-unionists in the Latin-occupied areas of Greece continued to consider him the legitimate patriarch of Constantinople, ignoring his successor, the anti-unionist Athanasius II.
Gregory died in 1459 in Rome. He was honoured as saint and wonder-worker by the Catholic Church. He wrote two dissertations about the confutation of the works of the anti-unionist Mark Eugenikos, and one on the provenance of the Holy Spirit
. Some of his letters have been preserved, while three further theological treatises, On the unleavened bread
, On the Primacy of the Pope and On the Heavenly Beatitude, remain unpublished.
George Sphrantzes
George Sphrantzes, also Phrantzes or Phrantza was a late Byzantine Greek historian. He was born in Constantinople. At an early age he became secretary to Manuel II Palaiologos; in 1432 protovestiarites; in 1446 prefect of Mistras, and subsequently great logothete...
, it is recorded that he came from Crete
Crete
Crete is the largest and most populous of the Greek islands, the fifth largest island in the Mediterranean Sea, and one of the thirteen administrative regions of Greece. It forms a significant part of the economy and cultural heritage of Greece while retaining its own local cultural traits...
, and that his real name was
Melissenos. In other works he is referred to as Melissenos-Strategopoulos.
He was tonsured as a monk in ca. 1420, and is considered to have been the confessor of Emperor John VIII Palaiologos
John VIII Palaiologos
John VIII Palaiologos or Palaeologus , was the penultimate reigning Byzantine Emperor, ruling from 1425 to 1448.-Life:John VIII Palaiologos was the eldest son of Manuel II Palaiologos and Helena Dragaš, the daughter of the Serbian prince Constantine Dragaš...
. He was a supporter of the Union with the Catholic Church and participated in the Council of Ferra-Florence. He was elected Patriarch after the death of the also-unionist Patriarch Metrophanes II
Patriarch Metrophanes II of Constantinople
Metrophanes II served as Bishop of Cyzicus in Asia Minor when he was called to join the delegation of bishops attending the Council of Florence. He was appointed by the Emperor John VIII in May 1440 as successor to Patriarch Joseph II of Constantinople following the death of the latter in Florence...
.
In 1450, he was forced to abdicate by the opposition of the anti-unionists to his policies, and went into exile in Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
in August 1451. He was cordially received by Pope Nicholas V
Pope Nicholas V
Pope Nicholas V , born Tommaso Parentucelli, was Pope from March 6, 1447 to his death in 1455.-Biography:He was born at Sarzana, Liguria, where his father was a physician...
, who aided him financially and tried to pressure the Byzantine emperor to restore him on the patriarchal throne. Indeed, the pro-unionists in the Latin-occupied areas of Greece continued to consider him the legitimate patriarch of Constantinople, ignoring his successor, the anti-unionist Athanasius II.
Gregory died in 1459 in Rome. He was honoured as saint and wonder-worker by the Catholic Church. He wrote two dissertations about the confutation of the works of the anti-unionist Mark Eugenikos, and one on the provenance of the Holy Spirit
Holy Spirit
Holy Spirit is a term introduced in English translations of the Hebrew Bible, but understood differently in the main Abrahamic religions.While the general concept of a "Spirit" that permeates the cosmos has been used in various religions Holy Spirit is a term introduced in English translations of...
. Some of his letters have been preserved, while three further theological treatises, On the unleavened bread
Unleavened Bread
Unleavened Bread is a 1900 novel by American writer Robert Grant....
, On the Primacy of the Pope and On the Heavenly Beatitude, remain unpublished.