Sisinnius II ( el, Σισίννιος, Sisinnios; died 24 August 998) became
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 996 and held the post until his death in 998.
According to the histories of
John Skylitzes and
Zonaras, he was extremely well educated, particularly in medical matters, and had been honoured with the office of ''
magistros
The ''magister officiorum'' (Latin literally for "Master of Offices", in gr, μάγιστρος τῶν ὀφφικίων, magistros tōn offikiōn) was one of the most senior administrative officials in the Later Roman Empire and the early cent ...
''.
He was elected to the patriarchate on 12 April 996, after the see had remained vacant for four years, due to the preoccupation of Emperor
Basil II
Basil II Porphyrogenitus ( gr, Βασίλειος Πορφυρογέννητος ;) and, most often, the Purple-born ( gr, ὁ πορφυρογέννητος, translit=ho porphyrogennetos).. 958 – 15 December 1025), nicknamed the Bulgar S ...
with his
wars against the
Bulgarians
Bulgarians ( bg, българи, Bǎlgari, ) are a nation and South Slavic ethnic group native to Bulgaria and the rest of Southeast Europe.
Etymology
Bulgarians derive their ethnonym from the Bulgars. Their name is not completely underst ...
.
On 21 February 997, he issued a ''tomos'' on prohibiting marriage between persons related to the fifth or sixth degree. These regulations are soon after attested in juridical decisions, but appear to have also caused some opposition (''Logos Antirrhetikos'' of Skribas Nikolaos, ).
Two other canons on prohibitions related to marriages are also attributed to him, but are considered as fake by modern scholars.
A later note in Skylitzes' account also reports that Sisinnius managed to finally lay to rest the quarrels of the
Tetragamy affair of
Leo VI the Wise ().
In 997/8, he also issued a ''typikon'' concerning the provision of the
Metropolitan of Alania in the patriarchal monastery of Epiphanios in
Kerasus.
Sisinnius was also the recipient of three letters from
Leo of Synada Leo of Synada ( – after 1003) was a Byzantine cleric, diplomat and writer of the late 10th century.
Life Origin and family
Leo was born in , likely in 937.. Leo and his life are known only through his letters, written during the reign of Basil II ...
.
He died on 24 August 998. His successor was
Sergius II of Constantinople
Sergius II ( el, Σέργιος Β′; ? – July 1019) was the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople from July 1001 to 1019.
According to the history of John Skylitzes, he was a relative of the celebrated 9th-century patriarch Photius. In 1001 ...
, who was elected in 1001.
References
Sources
Official website of the Ecumenic Patriarchate of Constantinople*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Sisinnius 02 Of Constantinople
998 deaths
10th-century births
10th-century patriarchs of Constantinople
Year of birth unknown
Magistroi
Basil II