Eustratius Garidas

Eustratius Garidas (Greek: Εὐστράτιος Γαριδᾶς; ? – after 1084) was Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople between 1081 and 1084. A monk, he was elevated to the patriarchal throne through the influence of the mother of the emperor Alexios I, Anna Dalassene, to whom he had become an intimate advisor.[1] He was an eunuch.

Eustratius Garidas
Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople
ChurchChurch of Constantinople
In office8 May 1081 – July 1084
PredecessorCosmas I of Constantinople
SuccessorNicholas III of Constantinople
Personal details
Born?
Diedafter 1084

Anna Comnena and other writers describe him as uneducated and of weak character.[2] Due to his illiteracy and apparent gullibility he was involved in the case of John Italus, whom his predecessor, Patriarch Cosmas I of Constantinople had condemned. Alexios had to take over the case against Italus as Eustratius, in his words,"rather dwelt at leisure and preferred peace and quiest to noisy throngs, and turned to God alone."[3]

During the war against the Normans, at the beginning of the reign of Alexios in 1081–1082, Garidas did not resist the expropriation of artworks and consecrated treasures of the capital's churches, destined to be melted for currency to pay the army of Alexios I. This lack of resistance was not forgiven by Leo of Chalcedon who sought to expel him from his throne, at one point also accusing him, without evidence, of diverting part of the appropriate treasure for his own use.[4] Finally, accused of heresy, Eustratios was cleared by a commission of inquiry established by Alexios in 1084, but he chose to abdicate.

References

  1. Comnena, pp. 108-109.
  2. Buckler, p. 290.
  3. Buckler, p, 290, note 3.
  4. Hussey, p. 148.

Sources

  • Ecumenical Patriarchate
  • Buckler, Georgina. Anna Komnena: A Study. Oxford: University Press, 1929.
  • Comnena, Anna. The Alexiad. New York: Penguin, 2003.
  • Hussey, J.M.. The Orthodox Church in the Byzantine Empire. Oxford: University Press, 1986.
Eastern Orthodox Church titles
Preceded by
Cosmas I
Patriarch of Constantinople
10811084
Succeeded by
Nicholas III Grammatikos
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