Ecumenical Patriarch Cyril V of Constantinople

Cyril V
Cyril V
Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople
Church	Church of Constantinople
In office	28 September 1748 – end May 1751; 7 September 1752 – 16 January 1757
Personal details
Born	unknown
Died	27 July 1775; Mount Athos
Previous post(s)	Metropolitan of Nicomedia

Cyril V Karakallos (Greek: Κύριλλος Καράκαλλος; died 27 July 1775) was Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople for two periods from 1748 to 1751 and from 1752 to 1757.

A controversial figure, often blamed for his ideas about the baptism,^[1] in 1755 he issued the Oros, a canonical document which, superseding the previous use of accepting Christian converts by Chrismation, stated that all non-Orthodox (including Catholic) baptisms were not valid and all converts needed to be re-baptized.^[2]

Life

Cyril was born in Dimitsana,^[a] in the Peloponnese. Still young, he was taken captive during the Ottoman–Venetian War (1714–1718) and after his release he went to Patmos where he became a monk. In Patmos, he also continued his studies but he was expelled by the school for behavior issues before graduation.^[1]

In 1737, he was appointed Metropolitan of Meleniko and in 1745 he was promoted to the See of Nicomedia.^[4] On 28 September 1748, he was elected Patriarch of Constantinople for the first time in place of Paisius II,^[5] even if some days before he had sworn to Paisius that he would not try to depose him.^[6]

As Patriarch, Cyril had three priorities: the recovery of the patriarchal finances, the fight against Catholic positions and the instruction of the monks. To improve the finances, he raised taxes on the metropolitan bishops and relieved the little parishes: this action was quite successful but made him unpopular among the bishops. He strongly supported the need to re-baptise all converts, and especially women,^[7] because he considered the Armenian and Catholic baptisms as not valid. These positions created discontent among the metropolitans, who deposed him in May 1751 and reinstalled the moderate Paisius II in his place. Cyril retired on island of Halki, near Istanbul.

Cyril however was supported by a large portion of the populace, both because of his regulations on taxes and because of his opposition to the Catholic Church. In this regard Cyril was helped by the thaumaturgic and demagogic monk Auxentios^[6] who preached strongly against the Catholics and instigated riots which culminated with a violent assault on the Patriarchate and the seizure of Paisius himself.^[7] The riots were crushed, but the Ottoman authorities requested the deposition of Paisius and,^[6] in exchange for a considerable amount of money (45,000 piastres^[8]^: 166), appointed Cyril V, who was reinstalled on 7 September 1752.

With regards to the instruction of the monks, Cyril established in 1749 the Athonite Academy on Mount Athos, and in 1753 he called the eminent theologian and scholar Eugenios Voulgaris to guide it. However the Enlightenment ideas of Voulgaris were too modern for the monks, and he had to resign in 1758.^[6]^: 220

The opposition to Cyril was led by the Metropolitan of Proilavo (Brăila in Romania) and future Patriarch, Callinicus. After Cyril ordered Callinicus into exile in the Sinai, the latter took refuge in the French embassy in Istanbul. Here Callinicus obtained a large amount of money which were given to the Sultan Osman III and resulted in Cyril's second and final deposition on 16 January 1757.^[7]

Cyril was exiled to the Sinai, and later under Serapheim II he was allowed to move to the skete of Agia Anna on Mount Athos. In 1763, he returned to Constantinople to attempt a restoration to the patriarchal throne, but he was promptly and forcibly taken back to Agia Anna, where he died on 27 July 1775.^[1]

The Oros and the validity of baptisms

From the beginning of his reign, Cyril took a stand against the validity of the Armenian and Catholic baptism, and consequently of all their other sacraments. This view was known as Ana-baptism, a term and a doctrine unrelated to the Protestant Anabaptism. The issue was rooted by the heavy anti-Catholic polemic typical of the 18th century, probably fed by the alarm caused by Catholic proselytism. Its main representatives were Eugenios Voulgaris, the lay Eustratios Argenti and the thaumaturgic and demagogic monk Auxentios, who was able to stir up anti-Catholic mobs.^[7]

The issue of the validity of baptisms arose after the Ottoman–Venetian War, when the Venetian-ruled Peloponnese was reconquered by the Ottoman Empire. The Ottomans ruled the Christians through the millet system and subjected the Catholics to the civil authority of the Patriarch of Constantinople, causing numerous conversions to Orthodoxy. Cyril's actions to require the re-baptism of converts was due both by his fierce anti-Catholic position and by his sincere desire to provide what he considered to be a valid baptism.^[6]

As of 1752, Cyril ruled that in any case the Armenian and Catholic converts should be re-baptised. The Holy Synod met on 28 April 1755 and formally voted against Cyril's position, considering it an innovation not envisaged by the ancient canons and contrary to the liturgical praxis. At this point, Cyril exiled the members of the Holy Synod who were contrary to his view.^[7]

In June 1755, Cyril issued a circular letter with title "Anathema of those who accept papal sacraments", and a month later he issued the formal order "Oros (Tome) of the Holy Great Church of Christ" which required the re-baptism in any case for any converts. The Oros had at least seven editions.^[8]^: 197

No other Eastern Orthodox Church, except the Greek churches, accepted the Oros.^[9] The Russian Orthodox Church went on following the practice it had adopted in the previous century, which recognized baptisms performed in the Catholic and Lutheran Churches as valid and did not repeat them.^[9] The Oros was never formally retired, but since the beginning of 20th century the Greek Orthodox Church authorized different forms of reception for the converts.^[2] The Oros is still today deemed as binding by some conservative Orthodox circles.^[10]

According to scholar C.A. Frazee, the Oros, rather than the 1054 events, marked the true East–West Schism.^[11]

Notes

^ The scholar Gedeon^[3] suggested Nafplio in place of Dimitsana.

References

^ ^a ^b ^c Moustakas Konstantinos. "Kyrillos V of Constantinople". Encyclopaedia of the Hellenic World, Asia Minor. Archived from the original on 12 March 2012. Retrieved 18 June 2011.
^ ^a ^b Meyendorff, John (1981). The Orthodox Church : its past and its role in the world today. Crestwood, N.Y: St. Vladimir's Seminary Press. pp. 88–89. ISBN 978-0-913836-81-1.
^ Gedeon, Manuel (1890). Πατριαρχικοί Πίνακες (in Greek). Lorenz & Keil. p. ^{[page needed]}.
^ "Κύριλλος Ε´". Ecumenical Patriarchate. Retrieved 19 June 2011.(in Greek)
^ Kiminas, Demetrius (2009). The Ecumenical Patriarchate. Wildside Press LLC. p. 41. ISBN 978-1-4344-5876-6.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e Runciman, Steven (1985). The Great Church in captivity. Cambridge University Press. pp. 357–9. ISBN 978-0-521-31310-0.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e Frazee, Charles (2006). Catholics and sultans : the church and the Ottoman Empire, 1453-1923. London: Cambridge University Press. pp. 160–2. ISBN 0-521-02700-4.
^ ^a ^b Papadopoullos, Theodōros (1952). Studies and documents relating to the history of the Greek Church and people under Turkish domination. Brussels. pp. 166, 197.{cite book}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
^ ^a ^b Ambrosius Pogodin. "III, The decision of the Constantinople Council of 1756...". On the Question of the Order of Reception of Persons into the Orthodox Church. Retrieved 20 June 2011.
^ Meyendorff, John (1975). Christ in Eastern Christian thought. Crestwood, N.Y: St. Vladimir's Seminary Press. p. 151. ISBN 978-0-913836-27-9.
^ Frazee, Charles (1997). World History the Easy Way: A.D. 1500 to the present. Barron's Educational Series. p. 105. ISBN 978-0-8120-9766-5.

Sources

Frazee, Charles A. (2006) [1983]. Catholics and Sultans: The Church and the Ottoman Empire 1453-1923. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. ISBN 9780521027007.

External links

Text of the "Oros of the Holy Great Church of Christ"

Religious titles
Preceded by Paisius II	Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople 1748–1751	Succeeded by Paisius II
Preceded by Paisius II	Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople 1752–1757	Succeeded by Callinicus IV

[4] The scholar Gedeon^[3] suggested Nafplio in place of Dimitsana.

[EHW-1] Moustakas Konstantinos. "Kyrillos V of Constantinople". Encyclopaedia of the Hellenic World, Asia Minor. Archived from the original on 12 March 2012. Retrieved 18 June 2011.

[Meyendorff1-2] Meyendorff, John (1981). The Orthodox Church : its past and its role in the world today. Crestwood, N.Y: St. Vladimir's Seminary Press. pp. 88–89. ISBN 978-0-913836-81-1.

[Gedeon-3] Gedeon, Manuel (1890). Πατριαρχικοί Πίνακες (in Greek). Lorenz & Keil. p. ^{[page needed]}.

[EP-5] "Κύριλλος Ε´". Ecumenical Patriarchate. Retrieved 19 June 2011.(in Greek)

[Kiminas-6] Kiminas, Demetrius (2009). The Ecumenical Patriarchate. Wildside Press LLC. p. 41. ISBN 978-1-4344-5876-6.

[Runciman-7] Runciman, Steven (1985). The Great Church in captivity. Cambridge University Press. pp. 357–9. ISBN 978-0-521-31310-0.

[Frazee-8] Frazee, Charles (2006). Catholics and sultans : the church and the Ottoman Empire, 1453-1923. London: Cambridge University Press. pp. 160–2. ISBN 0-521-02700-4.

[Papadopoullos-9] Papadopoullos, Theodōros (1952). Studies and documents relating to the history of the Greek Church and people under Turkish domination. Brussels. pp. 166, 197.{cite book}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)

[Pogodin-10] Ambrosius Pogodin. "III, The decision of the Constantinople Council of 1756...". On the Question of the Order of Reception of Persons into the Orthodox Church. Retrieved 20 June 2011.

[Meyendorff-11] Meyendorff, John (1975). Christ in Eastern Christian thought. Crestwood, N.Y: St. Vladimir's Seminary Press. p. 151. ISBN 978-0-913836-27-9.

[Frazee2-12] Frazee, Charles (1997). World History the Easy Way: A.D. 1500 to the present. Barron's Educational Series. p. 105. ISBN 978-0-8120-9766-5.

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v t e Bishops of Byzantium and Patriarchs of Constantinople
Bishops of Byzantium (Roman period, 38–330 AD)	Andrew Stachys Onesimus Polycarpus I Plutarch Sedecion Diogenes Eleutherius Felix Polycarpus II Athenodorus Euzois Laurence Alypius Pertinax Olympianus Marcus I Philadelphus Cyriacus I Castinus Eugenius I Titus Dometius Rufinus Probus Metrophanes Alexander
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Patriarchs of Constantinople (Byzantine period, 451–1453 AD)	Anatolius Gennadius I Acacius Fravitta Euphemius Macedonius II Timothy I John II Epiphanius Anthimus I Menas Eutychius John III John IV Cyriacus II Thomas I Sergius I Pyrrhus Paul II Peter Thomas II John V Constantine I Theodore I George I Paul III Callinicus I Cyrus John VI Germanus I Anastasius Constantine II Nicetas I Paul IV Tarasius Nicephorus I Theodotus I Antony I John VII Methodius I Ignatios Photios I Stephen I Antony II Nicholas I Εuthymius I Stephen II Tryphon Theophylact Polyeuctus Βasil I Αntony III Nicholas II Sisinnius II Sergius II Eustathius Alexius Michael I Constantine III John VIII Cosmas I Eustratius Nicholas III John IX Leo Michael II Cosmas II Nicholas IV Theodotus II Neophytus I Constantine IV Luke Michael III Chariton Theodosius I Basil II Nicetas II Leontius Dositheus George II John X Michael IV^† Theodore II^† Maximus II^† Μanuel I^† Germanus II^† Methodius II^† Manuel II^† Arsenius^† Nicephorus II^† Germanus III Joseph I John XI Gregory II Athanasius I John XII Nephon I John XIII Gerasimus I Isaias John XIV Isidore I Callistus I Philotheus Macarius Nilus Antony IV Callistus II Matthew I Euthymius II Joseph II Metrophanes II Gregory III Athanasius II
Patriarchs of Constantinople (Ottoman period, 1453–1923 AD)	Gennadius II Isidore II Joasaph I Sophronius I Mark II Symeon I Dionysius I Raphael I Maximus III Nephon II Maximus IV Joachim I Pachomius I Theoleptus I Jeremias I Joannicius I Dionysius II Joasaph II Metrophanes III Jeremias II Pachomius II Theoleptus II Matthew II Gabriel I Theophanes I Meletius I Neophytus II Raphael II Cyril I Timothy II Gregory IV Anthimus II Cyril II Athanasius III Neophytus III Parthenius I Parthenius II Joannicius II Cyril III Paisius I Parthenius III Gabriel II Parthenius IV Dionysius III Clement Methodius III Dionysius IV Gerasimus II Athanasius IV James Callinicus II Neophytus IV Gabriel III Neophytus V Cyprianus Athanasius V Cyril IV Cosmas III Jeremias III (Callinicus III) Paisius II Seraphim I Neophytus VI Cyril V Callinicus IV (III) Seraphim II Joannicius III Samuel Meletius II Theodosius II Sophronius II Gabriel IV Procopius Neophytus VII Gerasimus III Gregory V Callinicus V (IV) Jeremias IV Cyril VI Eugenius II Anthimus III Chrysanthus Agathangelus Constantius I Constantius II Gregory VI Anthimus IV Anthimus V Germanus IV Meletius III Anthimus VI Cyril VII Joachim II Sophronius III Joachim III Joachim IV Dionysius V Neophytus VIII Anthimus VII Constantine V Germanus V Meletius IV
Patriarchs of Constantinople (Turkish period, since 1923 AD)	Gregory VII Constantine VI Basil III Photius II Benjamin Maximus V Athenagoras Demetrius Bartholomew
^† in exile at Nicaea Christianity portal