Jeremias III of Constantinople
His All-Holiness Jeremias III of Constantinople was the Patriarch of Constantinople for two periods during the eighteenth century, from 1716 to 1726 and from 1732 to 1733.
Life
Jeremias was born in Patmos during the second half of the seventeenth century. While living in Patmos he was ordained a deacon. He moved to Constantinople at an early age and entered into an ecclesiastic career. After his ordination as priest, he served on the island of Halki, before entering service in the Metropolis of Caesarea under the metropolitan Cyprianus. He is believed to have succeeded Metr. Cyprianus in 1708. He apparently established a good reputation as metropolitan in Kaisareia. He served as Metropolitan of Caesarea until March 23, 1716 when he was elected Patriarch of Constantinople and, as patriarch, enjoyed a positive attitude towards him from the community of the Kaisareians in Constantinople.
His first period as a patriarch ended in 1726 with his exile to the Sinai. His deposition was the result of the actions by the ruler of Moldavia, Grigorios Gikas. Notwithstanding his removal from the patriarchal throne, Jeremias remained popular among the people who came from Kaisareia who, in 1731 tried to overthrow Paisius II (Kioumourtzoglou) and restore Jeremias. While the plan failed, Jeremias remained an important figure in the Church and, when Paisius II deposed for the first time, was installed a second time as patriarch in January 1733.
Patr. Jeremias, also, became involved in the succession to the patriarchal throne of Antioch. In 1724, he interceded in the election of the patriarch succeeding Patr. Athanasius III Dabbas following his death, by declaring the election of Cyril Tanas, who favored re-establishing communion with the Roman Catholic Church, invalid and excommunicated him. In his stead Jeremias appointed Sylvester, a Greek hieromonk, the patriarch, on the basis of his authority over the Antiochian Patriarchate. This move formalized the split within the Church of Antioch between those who were favorable to union with Rome, led by Cyril VI Tanas, and those who were opposed led by Sylvester, thus creating the present day Melkite Greek Catholic Church.
His second period as patriarch was brief and rather inglorious, as in July 1733, Patr. Jeremias suffered a stroke and became incapable of fulfilling his duties. He was again deposed and sent in retirement to the Monastery of Megisti Lavra in Mount Athos. There, he reposed in 1735.
It was during Patr. Jeremias' patriarchate that authorization was given by the Ottoman Sultan to rebuilding the "Patriarchal Church and House" in Constantinople. The restoration of the church continued under later patriarchs, particularly Patr. Paisius II.
| Jeremias III of Constantinople | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by: Cyprianus |
Metropolitan of Caesarea 1733-1733 |
Succeeded by: ? |
| Preceded by: Cosmas III |
Patriarch of Constantinople 1716-1726 |
Succeeded by: Paisius II |
| Preceded by: Paisius II |
Patriarch of Constantinople 1733-1733 |
Succeeded by: Serapheim I |
Sources
Categories > People > Clergy > Bishops
Categories > People > Clergy > Bishops
Categories > People > Clergy > Bishops > Bishops by century > 18th-century bishops
Categories > People > Clergy > Bishops > Bishops by city > Bishops of Caesarea (Cappadocia)
Categories > People > Clergy > Bishops > Bishops by city > Patriarchs of Constantinople
