Isidore I Buchiras of Constantinople

Isidore I Buchiras of Constantinople, also Isidore I Boucheiras, was the Patriarch of Constantinople from 1347 to 1350. A hesychast, he was a disciple of St. Gregory Palamas.

Life

Little is known of his early life. Isidore was born in Iliessalonike during the latter part of the 1290s where he became a teacher and spiritual guide. As a disciple of St. Gregory, he was drawn into the dispute between the followers of Gregory Palamas and Barlaam of Calabria over Hesychasm during the middle decades of the fourteenth century. In 1345, Isidore, who was at the time the bishop elect of Monembasia in Thessaly, and St. Gregory were excommunicated by a synod of anti-hesychast bishops that had been convened by Patriarch John XIV Kalekas who himself was an opponent of St. Gregory.

In February 1347, during a synod convened by emperor John VI Kantakouzenos, Patr. John XIV was deposed and Isidore brought back and elected to succeed John XIV as patriarch of Constantinople. Upon becoming patriarch, Isidore released Gregory Palamas from prison and consecrated him Archbishop of Thessalonica. As Isidore I, he served as patriarch only until 1350 when he reposed.

Succession box: Isidore I Buchiras of Constantinople
Preceded by: John XIV Kalekas	Patriarch of Constantinople 1347-1350	Succeeded by: Callistus I

Help with box

Sources

• Catholic Encyclopedia: Hesychasm
• Macedonian Intellectuals of late Byzantine Thessalonike

External link

• Wikipedia: Gregory_Palamas