Gregory (George) the Cypriot

GREGORY (GEORGE) THE CYPRIOT. - Greek theologian and man of letters, b. in 1241 and d. in 1290. A native of Cyprus, whence his name, he completed his studies at Nicaea and at Constantinople, where he was a pupil of George Acropolites. He soon became a member, as deacon, of the court clergy and, under Michael VIII Palaeologus, proved to be one of the most convinced supporters of the union of the Eastern Church with Rome. After the accession to the throne of Andronicus II (1288), he was called to hold the office of patriarch: he then changed his original name of George to that of G., by which he is generally known, and began to combat the policy of Michael VIII and the agreement of the Council of Lyons. Not recognized by the patriarch of Antioch and opposed by the Orthodox themselves, on account of his ideas on theological matters, in 1289 he abdicated, and died a year later.

Most of his theological works were written against John Bekkos and his followers, or else in favor of friends accused before the Synod of Constantinople. These works earned him the title of "pillar of orthodoxy." There are also literary works by him that make him one of the most characteristic representatives of 13th-century Byzantine humanism. The autobiography that precedes his collection of letters is a valuable contribution to knowledge of the society of his time.

Mariano Baffi