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Saint '''Eutychius''' (c.[[510s|512]] - [[5 April]] [[582]]) was twice [[Patriarch]] of [[Constantinople]] ([[552]] - [[565]], [[577]] - 582). His biography, composed by his chaplain Eustathius, has been preserved entire.
Saint '''Eutychius''' (c.[[510s|512]] - [[5 April]] [[582]]) was twice [[Patriarch]] of [[Constantinople]] ([[552]] - [[565]], [[577]] - 582). His biography, composed by his chaplain Eustathius, a priest of Constantinople, has been preserved in its entirety.


Eutychius was born at Theium in [[Phrygia]], the son of Alexander, a general under [[Belisarius]]. He took the monastic habit at [[Amasea]] at the age of 30, around 542. As an [[archimandrite]] at [[Constantinople]] Eutychius stood high in favour with the patriarch [[Patriarch Mennas of Constantinople|Mennas]], at whose death he was nominated by [[Justinian I]] to the vacant chair that same day.
Eutychius was born at Theium in [[Phrygia]], the son of Alexander, a general under [[Belisarius]]. He took the monastic habit at [[Amasea]] at the age of 30. As an [[archimandrite]] at [[Constantinople]], Eutychius was well respected by the patriarch [[Patriarch Mennas of Constantinople|Mennas]], and he was nominated by [[Justinian I]] to the vacant chair on the very day of Mennas' death.


[[Pope Vigilius]] was still at Constantinople when Eutychius became Patriarch. Eutychius sent him the usual announcement of his own appointment and a completely orthodox profession of the [[Catholic]] faith. At the same time, he urged him to summon and preside over the council that was to be held on the question of the [[Three Chapters Controversy|Three Chapters]]. Vigilius gave, and then withdrew, his consent to the Council. In spite of the Pope's refusal, the council met on [[5 May]] [[553]] at Constantinople, and Eutychius shared the first place in the assembly with the patriarchs [[Apollinarius of Alexandria]] and [[Domninus of Antioch]]. At the second session the pope excused himself again on the grounds of ill health. The subscription of Eutychius to the Acts of this synod, which was later recognized as the Fifth General Council (Constantinople II), and which concluded on [[2 June]] [[553]], is a summary of the decrees against the Three Chapters.
== Henry Wace, ''Dictionary of Christian Biography'' ==
At the beginning of [[553]] Eutychius wrote to [[pope Vigilius]], making his profession of the [[Catholic]] faith, declaring his acceptance of the four councils and the letters of St. Leo, and requesting Vigilius to preside over the council that was to be held on the question of the [[Three Chapters Controversy|Three Chapters]]. Vigilius refused, and Eutychius shared the first place in the assembly with the patriarchs [[Apollinarius of Alexandria]] and [[Domninus of Antioch]]. At the second session the pope excused himself again, on the ground of ill-health. The subscription of Eutychius to the Acts of this synod, which sat from [[5 May]] to [[2 June]] [[553]], is a summary of the decrees against the Three Chapters.


Eutychius came into violent collision with Justinian in [[564]], when the emperor adopted the tenets of the [[Aphthartodocetae]]. Eutychius, in a long address, demonstrated the incompatibility of that theory with Scripture; but Justinian insisted on his subscribing to it, and finding him uncompromising, ordered his arrest. On [[January 22]], 565, Eutychius was at the holy table celebrating the feast-day of St. Timotheus in the church adjoining the Hormisdas palace (cf. [[Charles du Fresne, sieur du Cange|du Cange]], Cpolis. Chr. lib. ii. p. 96, lib. iv. p. 93, ed. 1729), when soldiers broke into the patriarchal residence, entered the church, and carried the patriarch away, first to a monastery called Choracudis, and the next day to that of St. Osias near [[Chalcedon]]. The 8th day after this outrage Justinian called an assembly of princes and prelates, to which he summoned Eutychius. The charges against him were trifling and absurd: that he used ointments, ate delicate meats, and prayed long. Cited thrice, Eutychius replied that he would only come if he were to be judged canonically, in his own dignity, and in command of his clergy. Condemned by default, he was sent to an island in the Propontis named Principus, and afterwards to his old monastery at Amasea, where he spent 12 years and 5 months. On the death of [[John Scholasticus|Joannes Scholasticus]], whom Justinian had put in the patriarchal chair, the people of Constantinople loudly demanded the return of Eutychius. [[Justin II]] had succeeded Justinian, and had associated with himself the young [[Tiberius II Constantine|Tiberius]]. The emperors immediately sent an honourable deputation to Amasea to bring back Eutychius, who returned with great joy to Constantinople in Oct 577. An immense concourse met him, shouting aloud, "Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord," and "Glory to God in the highest, on earth peace." In questionable imitation of our Lord he entered on an ass's colt, over garments spread on the ground, the crowd carrying palms, dancing, and singing. The whole city was illuminated, public banquets were held, new buildings inaugurated. Next day he was met by the two emperors with conspicuous honour at the church of the Virgin in [[Blachernae]]. He then proceeded to the great church, which was filled from end to end, mounted the pulpit, and blessed the multitude. He was six hours distributing the communion, as all wished to receive from his own hands.
Eutychius had, so far, stood by the Emperor throughout. He composed the decree of the Council against The Chapters (Mansi, IX, 367-575). In [[562]], he consecrated the new church of [[Hagia Sophia|Sancta Sophia]]. However, Eutychius came into violent collision with Justinian in [[564]], when the emperor adopted the tenets of the [[Aphthartodocetae]], a sect of Monophysites, in Egypt, who said that Christ's body on earth was incorruptible (’aphthorá), and subject to no pain. Eutychius, in a long address, demonstrated the incompatibility of that theory with Scripture but Justinian insisted that he subscribe to it anyway. When Eutychius refused to compromise, Justinian ordered his arrest. On [[January 22]], 565, Eutychius was celebrating the feast day of St. Timotheus in the church adjoining the Hormisdas palace when soldiers broke into the patriarchal residence, entered the church, and carried the patriarch away. They took him first to a monastery called Choracudis, and the next day to the monastery of St. Osias near [[Chalcedon]] (cf. [[Charles du Fresne, sieur du Cange|du Cange]], Cpolis. Chr. lib. ii. p. 96, lib. iv. p. 93, ed. 1729). Eight days later Justinian called an assembly of princes and prelates, to which he summoned Eutychius. The charges against him were trivial: that he used ointments, ate "delicate meats", and prayed for long periods. After being summoned three times, Eutychius replied that he would only come if he were to be judged canonically, in his own dignity, and in command of his clergy. Condemned by default, he was sent to an island in the Propontis named Principus ("Prince's Island"), and later to his old monastery at Amasea, where he spent 12 years and 5 months.


Upon the death of [[John Scholasticus|Joannes Scholasticus]], whom Justinian had put in the patriarchal chair, the people of Constantinople demanded the return of Eutychius. [[Justin II]] had succeeded Justinian in 565, and had associated with himself the young [[Tiberius II Constantine|Tiberius]]. In October 577 the emperors sent a delegation to Amasea to bring Eutychius back to Constantinople. As he entered the city, a large group of people is said to have met him, shouting aloud, "Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord," and "Glory to God in the highest, on earth peace." In imitation of the entrance of Jesus into Jerusalem (recorded in Matthew 21:1-11 and John 12;12-18 of the Bible), he entered the city on an ass's colt, over garments spread on the ground, the crowd carrying palms, dancing, and singing. The whole city was illuminated, public banquets were held, and new buildings were inaugurated. The next day he met with the two emperors and was given "conspicuous honor" at the church of the Virgin in [[Blachernae]]. He then proceeded to the great church, which was filled completely with people, mounted the pulpit, and blessed the people. It took him six hours to distribute the communion because all of the people wished to receive it from his own hands.
Towards the end of his life, Eutychius maintained that after the resurrection the body will be more subtle than air, and no longer palpable. Future pope [[Gregory the Great]], then residing at Constantinople as [[apocrisiarius]] (delegate of the Roman church), felt himself bound to oppose this opinion. The emperor Tiberius talked to the disputants separately, and tried to reconcile them; but the breach was persistent. Eutychius died quietly on the Sunday after [[Easter]], aged 70 years. Some of his friends told Gregory that, a few minutes before his end, he touched the skin of his hand, saying, "I confess that in this flesh we shall rise again" (Paul. Diac. Vit. Greg. Mag. lib. i. capp. 9, 27-30; Vit. Greg. ex ejus Script).


Toward the end of his life, Eutychius maintained an opinion that after the resurrection the body will be "more subtle than air", and no longer a tangible thing. This was considered to be heretical because it was taken as a denial of the doctrine of physical, corporeal resurrection. The future pope [[Gregory the Great]], then residing at Constantinople as [[Apocrisiarius]], opposed this opinion, citing Luke 24:39. The emperor Tiberius talked to the disputants separately, and tried to reconcile them; but the breach was persistent. Eutychius died quietly on the Sunday after [[Easter]], at the age of 70. Some of his friends later told Pope Gregory that a few minutes before his death he touched the skin of his hand and said, "I confess that in this flesh we shall rise again", a rough quote of Job 19:26 (Paul. Diac. Vit. Greg. Mag. lib. i. capp. 9, 27-30; Vit. Greg. ex ejus Script).
==New Advent==
The great quarrel of the [[Three-Chapter Controversy]], an attempt to reconcile the [[Monophysitism|Monophysite]] beliefs of the Christians of Syria and [[Aegyptus (Roman province)|Egypt]] with Western [[Christendom]], was then going on. The question at issue was rather, whether it were worth while, on the chance of conciliating these Monophysites, to comdemn people who had died so long ago. It is also true that, in the West, people suspected in these Three Chapters a veiled attack on Chalcedon. Justinian's "Edict of the Chapters" appeared in 544. It was accepted in the East and rejected in the West. Pope Vigilius (540-555) was the unhappy victim of the quarrel. In 548 he accepted the Edict by an Iudicatum, which also carefully guarded Chalcedon. He had himself just come to Constantinople, in order to preside at a Council that should confirm the three anathemas. But he found that, by his Iudicatum, he had grievously offended his own Western bishops. [[Dacius of Milan]], and Facundus of Hermiane led the opposition against him, and in 550 a Synod of Carthage excommunicated the Pope. Vigilius then began that career of indecision that has left him the reputation of being the weakest Pope that reigned. He was still at Constantinople when Eutychius became Patriarch. Eutychius sent him the usual announcement of his own appointment and the usual (and quite orthodox) profession of faith. At the same time, he urged him to summon the Council at once. Meanwhile Justinian had published a second, and still stronger, condemnation of the Three Chapters ([[23 December]], 551). Vigilius gave, and then withdrew, his consent to the Council. Justinian insisted on the exclusion of the African bishops, who were all strongly opposed to his condemnations. In spite of the Pope's refusal, the council met on [[5 May]] [[553]], at Constantinople. A hundred and sixty-five bishops attended. This is what was afterwards recognized as the Fifth General Council (Constantinople II). On [[14 May]] the Pope sent them a modified Decree, called the Constitution, in which he condemned sixty propositions taken from Theodore of Mopsuestia, but forbade the condemnation of the other Chapters. As he would not attend the council Eutychius presided. The Council wrote respectfully to the Pope, but, in spite of the Constitution, completely confirmed Justinian's edicts, in its eighth session. It also acknowledged the formula Unus de Trinitate passus est as orthodox, and incidentally condemned Origen. (Can. 11, 12, 13, 14. For this Council see ''Liberati Breviarium'', infra; [[J. D. Mansi]], IX, 163; [[Hefele]], ''Conciliengesch''., 2nd ed., II, 898 sqq.) Vigilius gave in on [[8 December]], after months of ill-treatment, was allowed to go back to Rome, and died on the way, in Sicily, in 554. [There is an account of all this story in Fortescue's Orth. Eastern Church, 82-83.]


Eutichius' extant works are his letter to Pope Vigilius ([[Jacques Paul Migne|Migne]], [[Patrologia Latina|P. L.]], LXIX, 63, P.G. LXXXVI, 2401), a fragment of his "Discourse on Easter" (Mai: Class. Auct. X, 488, and Script. Vet. Nov Coll. IX, 623); and other fragments found in P.G., LXXXVI. His feast is kept by the Byzantine Church on [[6 April]], and he is mentioned in the Catholic church's "[[Corpus Iuris Civilis|Corpus Iuris]]" (Grat., I pars., Dist. XVI, Cap. x).
Eutychius had, so far, stood by the Emperor throughout. He composed the decree of the Council against The Chapters (Mansi, IX, 367-575). In 562, he consecrated the new church of [[Hagia Sophia|Sancta Sophia]]. His next adventure was a quarrel with Justinian about the Aphthartodocetes. These were a sect of Monophysites, in Egypt, who said that Christ's body on earth was incorruptible (’aphthorá), and subject to no pain. The Emperor saw in the defence of these people a new means of conciliating the Monophysites, and, in 564, he published a decree defending their theory (Evagrius, Hist. Eccl., IV, 391). Eutychius resisted this decree, so on [[22 January]] [[565]], he was arrested in the church, and banished to a monastery at Chalcedon. Eight days later a synod was summoned to judge him. A ridiculous list of charges was brought against him; he used ointment, he ate deliciously, etc. (Eustathius, Vita S. Eutych., 4, 5). He was condemned, deposed, and sent to Prince's Island in Propontis. Thence he went to his old home at Amasea, where he stayed twelve years. Joannes Scholasticus succeeded as Patriarch (John III, 566-577); and after his death, in 577, the Emperor Justin II (565-578) recalled Eutychius, who came back in October. At the end of his life Eutychius evolved a heretical opinion denying the resurrection of the body. Future pope and Saint Gregory I the Great was then [[Apocrisiarius]] (legate of the Roman See at Constantinople). He argued about this question with the patriarch, quoting Luke, xxiv, 39, with great effect, so that Eutychius, on his death-bed, made a full and orthodox profession of faith as to this point. St. Gregory tells the whole story in his "Exp. in libr. Job" (Moralium lib. XIV, 56); Eutychius dying said: "I confess that we shall all rise again in this flesh". (See also Paul. Diac.: Vita Greg. Mag. I, 9.) His extant works are his letter to Pope Vigilius ([[Jacques Paul Migne|Migne]], [[Patrologia Latina|P. L.]], LXIX, 63, P. G. LXXXVI, 2401), a fragment of a "Discourse on Easter" (Mai: Class. Auct. X, 488, and Script. Vet. Nov Coll. IX, 623); and other fragments in P. G., LXXXVI. His life was written by his disciple Eustathius, a priest of Constantinople. His feast is kept by the Byzantine Church on [[6 April]], and he is mentioned in our "[[Corpus Iuris Civilis|Corpus Iuris]]" (Grat., I pars., Dist. XVI, Cap. x).


==Sources==
==Sources==

Revision as of 04:07, 14 April 2007

Saint Eutychius (c.512 - 5 April 582) was twice Patriarch of Constantinople (552 - 565, 577 - 582). His biography, composed by his chaplain Eustathius, a priest of Constantinople, has been preserved in its entirety.

Eutychius was born at Theium in Phrygia, the son of Alexander, a general under Belisarius. He took the monastic habit at Amasea at the age of 30. As an archimandrite at Constantinople, Eutychius was well respected by the patriarch Mennas, and he was nominated by Justinian I to the vacant chair on the very day of Mennas' death.

Pope Vigilius was still at Constantinople when Eutychius became Patriarch. Eutychius sent him the usual announcement of his own appointment and a completely orthodox profession of the Catholic faith. At the same time, he urged him to summon and preside over the council that was to be held on the question of the Three Chapters. Vigilius gave, and then withdrew, his consent to the Council. In spite of the Pope's refusal, the council met on 5 May 553 at Constantinople, and Eutychius shared the first place in the assembly with the patriarchs Apollinarius of Alexandria and Domninus of Antioch. At the second session the pope excused himself again on the grounds of ill health. The subscription of Eutychius to the Acts of this synod, which was later recognized as the Fifth General Council (Constantinople II), and which concluded on 2 June 553, is a summary of the decrees against the Three Chapters.

Eutychius had, so far, stood by the Emperor throughout. He composed the decree of the Council against The Chapters (Mansi, IX, 367-575). In 562, he consecrated the new church of Sancta Sophia. However, Eutychius came into violent collision with Justinian in 564, when the emperor adopted the tenets of the Aphthartodocetae, a sect of Monophysites, in Egypt, who said that Christ's body on earth was incorruptible (’aphthorá), and subject to no pain. Eutychius, in a long address, demonstrated the incompatibility of that theory with Scripture but Justinian insisted that he subscribe to it anyway. When Eutychius refused to compromise, Justinian ordered his arrest. On January 22, 565, Eutychius was celebrating the feast day of St. Timotheus in the church adjoining the Hormisdas palace when soldiers broke into the patriarchal residence, entered the church, and carried the patriarch away. They took him first to a monastery called Choracudis, and the next day to the monastery of St. Osias near Chalcedon (cf. du Cange, Cpolis. Chr. lib. ii. p. 96, lib. iv. p. 93, ed. 1729). Eight days later Justinian called an assembly of princes and prelates, to which he summoned Eutychius. The charges against him were trivial: that he used ointments, ate "delicate meats", and prayed for long periods. After being summoned three times, Eutychius replied that he would only come if he were to be judged canonically, in his own dignity, and in command of his clergy. Condemned by default, he was sent to an island in the Propontis named Principus ("Prince's Island"), and later to his old monastery at Amasea, where he spent 12 years and 5 months.

Upon the death of Joannes Scholasticus, whom Justinian had put in the patriarchal chair, the people of Constantinople demanded the return of Eutychius. Justin II had succeeded Justinian in 565, and had associated with himself the young Tiberius. In October 577 the emperors sent a delegation to Amasea to bring Eutychius back to Constantinople. As he entered the city, a large group of people is said to have met him, shouting aloud, "Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord," and "Glory to God in the highest, on earth peace." In imitation of the entrance of Jesus into Jerusalem (recorded in Matthew 21:1-11 and John 12;12-18 of the Bible), he entered the city on an ass's colt, over garments spread on the ground, the crowd carrying palms, dancing, and singing. The whole city was illuminated, public banquets were held, and new buildings were inaugurated. The next day he met with the two emperors and was given "conspicuous honor" at the church of the Virgin in Blachernae. He then proceeded to the great church, which was filled completely with people, mounted the pulpit, and blessed the people. It took him six hours to distribute the communion because all of the people wished to receive it from his own hands.

Toward the end of his life, Eutychius maintained an opinion that after the resurrection the body will be "more subtle than air", and no longer a tangible thing. This was considered to be heretical because it was taken as a denial of the doctrine of physical, corporeal resurrection. The future pope Gregory the Great, then residing at Constantinople as Apocrisiarius, opposed this opinion, citing Luke 24:39. The emperor Tiberius talked to the disputants separately, and tried to reconcile them; but the breach was persistent. Eutychius died quietly on the Sunday after Easter, at the age of 70. Some of his friends later told Pope Gregory that a few minutes before his death he touched the skin of his hand and said, "I confess that in this flesh we shall rise again", a rough quote of Job 19:26 (Paul. Diac. Vit. Greg. Mag. lib. i. capp. 9, 27-30; Vit. Greg. ex ejus Script).

Eutichius' extant works are his letter to Pope Vigilius (Migne, P. L., LXIX, 63, P.G. LXXXVI, 2401), a fragment of his "Discourse on Easter" (Mai: Class. Auct. X, 488, and Script. Vet. Nov Coll. IX, 623); and other fragments found in P.G., LXXXVI. His feast is kept by the Byzantine Church on 6 April, and he is mentioned in the Catholic church's "Corpus Iuris" (Grat., I pars., Dist. XVI, Cap. x).

Sources

Preceded by Patriarch of Constantinople
552565, 577582
Succeeded by

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