Michael I Cerularius

Michael I of Constantinople
Michael I of Constantinople
Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople
	The enthronement of Michael I, from the Madrid Skylitzes
See	Constantinople
Installed	25 March 1043
Term ended	2 November 1058
Predecessor	Alexius of Constantinople
Successor	Constantine III of Constantinople
Personal details
Born	Michael Cerularius; c. 1000; Constantinople, Byzantine Empire
Died	21 January 1059 (aged c. 59); Constantinople, Byzantine Empire
Nationality	Byzantine
Denomination	Eastern Orthodoxy
Residence	Constantinople

Michael I of Constantinople (Cerularius or Keroularios (Greek: Μιχαὴλ Κηρουλάριος; c. 1000 – 21 January 1059) was the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople from 1043 to 1059. His disputes with Pope Leo IX over church practices in the 11th century played a role in the events that led to the Great Schism in 1054.^[1]

Background

Michael Cerularius was born in Constantinople around 1000 and joined the Church at a young age.

Schism

Michael I quarreled with Pope Leo IX over church practices in which the Roman Church differed from Constantinople, particularly the use of unleavened bread in the Eucharist.^[2] Dissenting opinions were also exchanged over other theological and cultural issues, ranging from the issue of papal supremacy in the Church to the filioque clause and other disagreements between the patriarchates.

In 1054, Pope Leo IX sent a letter to Michael I, citing a large portion of the Donation of Constantine believing it genuine.^[3]

"The first pope who used it [the Donation] in an official act and relied upon it, was Leo IX; in a letter of 1054 to Michael Cærularius, Patriarch of Constantinople, he cites the "Donatio" to show that the Holy See possessed both an earthly and a heavenly imperium, the royal priesthood".

Some scholars say that this letter of September 1053, the text of which is available in Jacques Paul Migne, Patrologia Latina, vol. 143, coll. 744-769, was never actually dispatched, but was set aside, and that the papal reply actually sent was the softer but still harsh letter Scripta tuae of January 1054.^[4]

Pope Leo IX assured Michael I that the donation was completely genuine, not a fable or old wives' tale,^{[citation needed]} arguing that only the apostolic successor to Peter possessed primacy in the Church.

This letter of Pope Leo IX addressed both to Patriarch Michael I and Archbishop Leo of Ohrid, was in response to a letter sent by Archbishop Leo to Bishop John of Trani that categorically attacked the customs of the Latin Church that differed from those of the Greeks. Especially criticised were the Roman traditions of fasting on the Saturday Sabbath and consecration of unleavened bread. Leo IX in his letter accused Constantinople of historically being a center of heresies and claimed in emphatic terms the primacy of the bishop of Rome over the patriarch of Constantinople. Michael I would have none of it. It can be argued that in 1054, Michael's letter to Leo IX initiated the events which followed because it claimed the title "ecumenical patriarch" and addressed Pope Leo as "brother" rather than "father".

Pope Leo IX sent an official delegation on a legatine mission to meet with Michael I. Members of the papal delegation were Cardinal Humbert of Silva Candida, papal secretary Frederick of Lorraine, and Archbishop Peter of Amalfi. Soon after their arrival in Constantinople, news was received that Pope Leo IX had died on 19 April. Since the official position and authority of papal legates was dependent upon the pope who authorised them to represent him, the news of Leo IX's death placed his envoys in an awkward position.^[5] In spite of this, they decided to proceed with their mission, but even before any religious discussions were held, problems arose regarding some basic formalities and ceremonies. During the initial audience, Michael I refused to meet with papal envoys in their official capacity and left them waiting with no further audience for months.

During that time, from April to July 1054, Cardinal Humbert and his colleagues continued with their activities in Constantinople, taking part in informal religious discussions on various issues. This was seen as inappropriate by Patriarch Michael I. Despite the fact that their legatine authority officially ceased after the pope's death, Cardinal Humbert and his colleagues decided to engage in open dispute with the patriarch. On Saturday, 16 July 1054, they produced a charter of excommunication (lat. charta excommunicationis),^[6] directed against Patriarch Michael I, Archbishop Leo of Ohrid, and all of their followers. On the same day, Cardinal Humbert and his colleagues entered the church of the Hagia Sophia during the divine liturgy and placed the charter on the altar.^[5]

Soon after that, the patriarch decided to react. On 20 July 1054, a synod of 21 metropolitans and bishops was held in Constantinople, presided over by Michael I. The council decided to excommunicate Cardinal Humbert and his colleagues.^[7]^[8] Only the three men were anathematised, and a general reference was made to all who support them - there was no explicit excommunication of the entire Western Christianity, or of the Church of Rome. On Sunday 24 July, the conciliar anathema was officially proclaimed in the Hagia Sophia Church.

The events of 1054 caused the East–West Schism and led to the end of the alliance between the Byzantine emperors and the Popes. Later popes allied with the Normans against the Byzantine Empire. Patriarch Michael I closed the Latin churches in his area, which exacerbated the schism. In 1965, those excommunications were rescinded by Pope Paul VI and Patriarch Athenagoras following their 1964 meeting in Jerusalem.^[9]

Although the excommunication delivered by Cardinal Humbert was invalid, the 1965 gesture represented a significant step towards restoring communion between Rome and Constantinople.^{[citation needed]}

Byzantine politics

The short reign of the Empress Theodora Porphyrogenita then saw Michael I intriguing against the throne. Michael Psellos notes that while their initial relations had been cordial, once Theodora took the throne, they entered into open conflict, as Michael I "was vexed because the Roman Empire was being governed by a woman", and on this topic "he spoke his mind freely".^[10] The historian suggests that Theodora would have deposed Michael I for his open effrontery and sedition, had she lived longer.

Michael I had a hand in negotiating the abdication of Theodora's successor, Michael VI Bringas, convincing him to step down on 31 August 1057, in favour of the rebellious general Isaac I Komnenos, for whom the army declared on 8 June.^[11] The emperor duly followed the patriarch's advice and became a monk. Having had a role in bringing him to the throne, Michael I soon quarrelled with Isaac I over confiscation of church property. Michael I went so far as to take the highly symbolic step of donning the purple shoes ceremonially reserved for the emperor. Michael I apparently planned a rebellion, intending to overthrow Isaac I and claim the throne for himself or for his relative Constantine Doukas. Isaac I exiled Michael I to Proconnesus in 1058 and, as Michael I refused to step down, had Michael Psellos drew up accusations of heresy and treason against him.^[12] Michael I died before coming to trial.

Notes and references

^ Charanis 1969, p. 209-212.
^ Michael Cærularius – Catholic Encyclopedia article
^ Jacques Paul Migne, Patrologia Latina, Vol. 143 (cxliii), Col. 744-769, Also Mansi, Sacrorum Conciliorum Nova Amplissima Collectio, Vol. 19 (xix), Col. 635-656.
^ Charanis 1969, p. 209-210.
^ ^a ^b Charanis 1969, p. 210.
^ Mansi 1774, p. 676-679.
^ Mansi 1774, p. 811-822.
^ Charanis 1969, p. 211.
^ Cairns, Earle E. (13 September 2009) [1954]. Christianity Through the Centuries - A History of the Christian Church (3 ed.). Grand Rapids, Michigan: Zondervan Academic (published 2009). p. 499. ISBN 9780310829300. Retrieved 13 June 2022. Pope Paul VI met with the Eastern patriarch Athenagoras in Jerusalem in 1964. On 7 December 1965, Paul VI in Rome and Athenagoras in Constantinople revoked the mutual excommunication of each church by the other in 1054.
^ Psellus, p. 269.
^ Norwich, p. 332
^ Psellus, p. 315. Editor's n. I. See also Skylitzes, p. 464, note 56.

Bibliography

Charanis, Peter (1969) [1955]. "The Byzantine Empire in the Eleventh Century". A History of the Crusades. Vol. 1 (2nd ed.). Madison: University of Wisconsin Press. pp. 177–219. ISBN 978-0-299-04834-1.
Migne's Patrologia Latina, Vol. 143 (cxliii), Leo IX Epistolae Et Decreta .pdf – 1.9 Mb. See Col. 744B-769D (p. 76-89) for Leo IX's letter.
Mansi, Giovanni Domenico, ed. (1774). Sacrorum conciliorum nova et amplissima collectio. Vol. 19. Venetia: Antonius Zatta.
Michael Psellus, Fourteen Byzantine Rulers (The Chronographia), E.R.A. Sewter, trans, New York, Penguin Books, 1966.
Siecienski, Anthony Edward (2010). The Filioque - History of a Doctrinal Controversy. Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-537204-5.
Skylitzes, John; (John Wortley, trans. and J-C. Cheynet, notes), Cambridge University Press, 2010.

Eastern Orthodox Church titles
Preceded by Alexius	Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople 1043 – 1058	Succeeded by Constantine III

[FOOTNOTECharanis1969209-212-1] Charanis 1969, p. 209-212.

[2] Michael Cærularius – Catholic Encyclopedia article

[3] Jacques Paul Migne, Patrologia Latina, Vol. 143 (cxliii), Col. 744-769, Also Mansi, Sacrorum Conciliorum Nova Amplissima Collectio, Vol. 19 (xix), Col. 635-656.

[FOOTNOTECharanis1969209-210-4] Charanis 1969, p. 209-210.

[FOOTNOTECharanis1969210-5] Charanis 1969, p. 210.

[FOOTNOTEMansi1774676-679-6] Mansi 1774, p. 676-679.

[FOOTNOTEMansi1774811-822-7] Mansi 1774, p. 811-822.

[FOOTNOTECharanis1969211-8] Charanis 1969, p. 211.

[9] Cairns, Earle E. (13 September 2009) [1954]. Christianity Through the Centuries - A History of the Christian Church (3 ed.). Grand Rapids, Michigan: Zondervan Academic (published 2009). p. 499. ISBN 9780310829300. Retrieved 13 June 2022. Pope Paul VI met with the Eastern patriarch Athenagoras in Jerusalem in 1964. On 7 December 1965, Paul VI in Rome and Athenagoras in Constantinople revoked the mutual excommunication of each church by the other in 1054.

[10] Psellus, p. 269.

[Norwich,_p._332-11] Norwich, p. 332

[12] Psellus, p. 315. Editor's n. I. See also Skylitzes, p. 464, note 56.

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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
Archbishops of Constantinople (Roman period, 330–451 AD)	Alexander Paul I Eusebius Macedonius I Eudoxius Evagrius Demophilus Maximus I Gregory I Nectarius John I Chrysostom Arsacius Atticus Sisinnius I Nestorius Maximianus Proclus Flavian Anatolius
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

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