Methodius III, called Moronis or Maronis ( el, Μεθόδιος Γ' ο Μορώνης/Μαρώνης), (? – 1679) was
Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople
The ecumenical patriarch ( el, Οἰκουμενικός Πατριάρχης, translit=Oikoumenikós Patriárchēs) is the archbishop of Constantinople ( Istanbul), New Rome and '' primus inter pares'' (first among equals) among the heads of ...
in 1668–1671.
Descended from
Crete
Crete ( el, Κρήτη, translit=, Modern: , Ancient: ) is the largest and most populous of the Greek islands, the 88th largest island in the world and the fifth largest island in the Mediterranean Sea, after Sicily, Sardinia, Cyprus, ...
, he served at the Church of the
Theotokos
''Theotokos'' ( Greek: ) is a title of Mary, mother of Jesus, used especially in Eastern Christianity. The usual Latin translations are ''Dei Genitrix'' or '' Deipara'' (approximately "parent (fem.) of God"). Familiar English translations a ...
of Chrysopigi in
Galata
Galata is the former name of the Karaköy neighbourhood in Istanbul, which is located at the northern shore of the Golden Horn. The district is connected to the historic Fatih district by several bridges that cross the Golden Horn, most nota ...
. In 1646, he was elected Metropolitan of
Heraclea. On 5 January 1668, he was elected
Ecumenical Patriarch
The ecumenical patriarch ( el, Οἰκουμενικός Πατριάρχης, translit=Oikoumenikós Patriárchēs) is the archbishop of Constantinople (Istanbul), New Rome and '' primus inter pares'' (first among equals) among the heads of th ...
, succeeding Patriarch Clement.
But because former
Patriarch Parthenius was hostile towards him, he was forced to resign in March 1671 and to become a monk in the
Nea Moni of Chios and after that in the
Strofades Monastery in
Zakynthos
Zakynthos (also spelled Zakinthos; el, Ζάκυνθος, Zákynthos ; it, Zacinto ) or Zante (, , ; el, Τζάντε, Tzánte ; from the Venetian form) is a Greek island in the Ionian Sea. It is the third largest of the Ionian Islands. Z ...
. In 1677, he went to
Venice
Venice ( ; it, Venezia ; vec, Venesia or ) is a city in northeastern Italy and the capital of the Veneto Regions of Italy, region. It is built on a group of 118 small islands that are separated by canals and linked by over 400 ...
and became commissioner in the orthodox
Church of Saint George, which served the local Greek-speaking community, until 1679 when he died.
Sources
Ecumenical Patriarchate*''Νεώτερον Εγκυκλοπαιδικόν Λεξικόν Ηλίου'' Vol. 13, p. 172.
{{DEFAULTSORT:Methodius 03 of Constantinople
1679 deaths
17th-century Greek clergy
Religious leaders from Crete
17th-century Ecumenical Patriarchs of Constantinople
Year of birth unknown