Anthimus VII Tsatsos

Anthimus VII Tsatsos was the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople from 1895 to 1896. He was born in Filiates, Greece, in 1827. He studied theology and became a monk at the age of 18. He served as a priest, a teacher, and a preacher in various places in Greece and Turkey. He was elected as the metropolitan bishop of Ephesus in 1873 and of Nicomedia in 1886. He was known for his eloquence, his learning, and his piety. He was also a staunch defender of the Orthodox faith and a critic of the Roman Catholic Church. In 1895, he was elected as the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople, succeeding Neophytus VIII. He was the 258th patriarch in the history of the church. During his short tenure, he faced many challenges and difficulties, such as the Armenian massacres, the Greek-Turkish tensions, and the interference of the Ottoman authorities. He also had to deal with the encyclical letter of Pope Leo XIII, which was addressed to the Eastern churches and invited them to reunite with Rome. Anthimus VII responded with his own encyclical letter, which was sent to all the Orthodox churches and refuted the papal claims of supremacy and infallibility. He also affirmed the independence and equality of the Orthodox churches and the validity of their traditions and doctrines. He defended the Orthodox position on various issues, such as the filioque, the immaculate conception, the purgatory, and the papal infallibility. He also expressed his hope for a genuine dialogue and mutual respect between the two churches. Anthimus VII resigned from his patriarchal office in 1896, due to the pressure and opposition of the Ottoman government. He retired to the Holy Trinity Monastery in Halki, where he spent the rest of his life in prayer and study. He died on December 19, 1913, at the age of 86. He was buried in the monastery's cemetery. He is remembered as one of the most eminent and influential patriarchs of the late 19th century. He was also a prolific writer and a respected theologian. He wrote many books and articles on various topics, such as dogmatics, ecclesiology, history, and spirituality. He also composed hymns and poems. He was a man of faith, wisdom, and courage, who served the church and the people with dedication and love.