Theodore IV of Antioch

Theodore IV of Antioch, also Theodore IV (Balsamon), was the Patriarch of Antioch from 1185 to 1199. He was a canonist in the Church of Constantinople who after being elected patriarch of Antioch remained a resident in Constantinople throughout his patriarchate.

Life

Theodore is thought to have been born during the third decade of the twelfth century in Constantinople. He was ordained a deacon and appointed head of the law school in Constantinople with the title Nomophylax (Greek: Νομοφύλαξ, "Guardian of the Laws"). Under Patr. Theodosius I, he was charged with handling all ecclesiastical cases and trials submitted to the patriarchate in Constantinople from 1178 to 1183. In 1193, he was elected Patriarch of Antioch, but remained in Constantinople until his death in 1199.

Works

Patr. Theodore's legacy is in his work as a canonist and his preservation of many source documents from the early political and theological history of Constantinople. His commentaries are still referenced by students of Orthodox canon law and are published in the official collections of canon law known as the Pedalion (Greek: Πεδαλιον, "Rudder").

His works include the Scholia (Greek: Σχόλια), written about 1170. This work is a commentary on the "Nomocanon" of St. Photius which is the standard work on Orthodox ecclesiastical and imperial laws and decrees. Patr. Theodore also complied a collection of ecclesiastical constitutions (Syntagma) and works concerning the debate then ongoing following the Great Schism of 1054.

Succession box: Theodore IV of Antioch
Preceded by: Christopher II	Patriarch of Antioch 1185-1199	Succeeded by: Joachim

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Sources

• wikipedia:Theodore_Balsamon
• Theodore Balsamon
• Theodore Balsamon