Name Matthew of | Died 1603 | |
Church Church of Constantinople In office February 1596
April 1598 – January 1602
January – February 1603 Predecessor Jeremias II
Theophanes I
Neophytus II Successor Gabriel I
Neophytus II
Raphael II Previous post Metropolitan of Ioannina | ||
Matthew II (Greek: Ματθαῖος Β΄) was Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople three times, shortly in 1596, from 1598 to 1602 and for a few days in 1603.
Contents
Life
Member of the Vlach community, Matthew was born in the village Kleinovo (now part of Kalabaka), and he became Metropolitan of Ioannina. In early 1596 he was elected Ecumenical Patriarch, but the election was not recognized because the Holy Synod that elected him was not attended by all the members; thus, after twenty days Matthew was forced to resign and moved to Mount Athos.
In April 1598 Matthew was elected again in April 1598. During this Patriarchate Matthew transferred the patriarchal see from the Church of St. Demetrius Xyloportas, used since 1597, to the unimpressive church of the women's monastery of St. George in the Phanar, where it remains until today as St. George's Cathedral. The Phanar district then became the recognised centre of Greek Christian life in the city. He remained on the throne until January 1602, when he returned to Mount Athos.
Once again, he ascended to the throne in January 1603 and reigned for seventeen days, either until his death, or, according to other sources, until he retired to Mount Athos, where he died in the same year.
Canonizations
Matthew canonized the Blessed Philothei, who was martyred in 1589 in Athens.