Paisius II | |
---|---|
Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople | |
Church | Church of Constantinople |
In office | 20 Nov 1726 – Sept 1732 August 1740 – May 1743 March 1744 – 28 Sept 1748 end May 1751 – Sept 1752 |
Predecessor |
Callinicus III Neophytus VI Neophytus VI Cyril V |
Successor |
Jeremias III Neophytus VI Cyril V Cyril V |
Personal details | |
Born | Caesarea |
Died | 11 December 1756 Halki |
Previous post | Metropolitan of Nicomedia |
Paisius II Kioumourtzoglou (Greek: Παΐσιος Β΄ Κιουμουρτζόγλου) was Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople for four times in the 18th century.
Paisius was born in Caesarea and his family name was Kioumourtzoglou (a Turkish name, as common among the mainly Karamanli Cappadocian Greeks). He probably moved early to Istanbul and became Metropolitan of Nicomedia surely before 1716, probably in 1712.
The first time that Paisius was elected as Patriarch of Constantinople was 20 November 1726, the day when Callinicus III was found dead by heart attack before his enthronement: Paisius was immediately chosen by the faction that previously elected Callinicus to preclude a return to the throne of Jeremias III. The first years of his reign were marked by clashes with the faction gathered around the community of Caesarea, whose main representatives were Jeremias III and later Neophytus VI, despite the fact that Paisius himself was born in this town. In 1731 this faction tried to depose him and to restore Jeremias, but failed. A second attempt in September 1732 was successful, when Jeremias III overthrew him. When later Jeremias had to retire due to health problems, a Patriarch from Nicomedia (Serapheim I) followed and later again one from Caesarea (Neophytus VI) who reigned six years.
The reign of Neophytus VI was ended by a decision of the Grand Vizier, who allowed Paisius to be reinstalled for his second term in August 1740. However three years later, in May 1743, Paisius was deposed by the Ottoman authorities for financial issues and Neophytus VI was restored.