Joasaph II of Constantinople, known as "the Magnificent" (Greek:Ἰωάσαφ ὁ Μεγαλοπρεπής; died after 1565), wasEcumenical Patriarch of Constantinople from 1556 to 1565.

Joasaph was born inThrace. He studied inIoannina and then inNafplio, learningArabic,Persian andTurkish. In 1535 he was consecrated bishop ofAdrianople by PatriarchJeremias I of Constantinople.^[1]

After the death of theDionysius II of Constantinople, he was elected Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople in July or August 1556.^[2][3] He was successful in reducing the appointment fee (peshtesh) due to theOttoman Sultan to one thousandÉcus.

Joasaph II promoted learning among the clergy, reformed the administration of the Church assets, and improved the finances reducing by half the debts of the Patriarchate. He also began a major enlargement of the Patriarchal palace. Due to these achievements, he was given the sobriquetthe Magnificent (Greek:ὁ Μεγαλοπρεπής).^[4] In 1556 he established in Constantinople a Patriarchal School, the forerunner of theGreat School of the Nation.

He showed interest in theProtestant Reformation, in particularLutheranism, and in 1558 he sent toWittenberg the Serbian deaconDimitrije Ljubavić to collect information. In 1559 the Lutheran theologianPhilip Melanchthon sent him a letter along with a Greek translation of theAugsburg Confession, but it didn't produce any effect.^[5] Some scholars suggest that Melanchthon's letter never reached Constantinople.^[6]

Joasaph II's expensive works, his haughty manner towards the clergy and his independent management of the finances created many opponents among the Greek community.^[4] The ultimate cause of his deposition was related to the request, in 1557, byIvan the Terrible of Russia to have his title ofTsar formally confirmed. In place of summoning a synod to deliberate the issue, Joasaph II sent to Russia a counterfeit synodical document in order to collect the rich reward for himself. His deceit was discovered, and he was deposed by a synod of sixty bishops on 15 January 1565 and exiled toMount Athos.^[4]

Some time later he was allowed by theHoly Synod to be reinstated in the Diocese of Adrianopolis, where he remained until his death.

• 16th-century Greek clergy
• 16th-century Eastern Orthodox bishops
• 16th-century deaths
• Bishops of Adrianople
• 16th-century ecumenical patriarchs of Constantinople

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