Parthenius III of Constantinople (Greek:Παρθένιος; died 24 March 1657) wasEcumenical Patriarch of Constantinople in 1656–1657. In 1657 he was charged with treason by theOttoman Sultan and hanged, after refusing to abjure his own Christian faith. He is hence revered asNewHieromartyr Parthenius III and his feast day in theEastern Orthodox Church is24 March.^[1][2]

Parthenius was born in theIsland of Lesbos, and in 1639 he was electedmetropolitan of Chios.^[3] On 26 July 1656 he became Ecumenical Patriarch, succeedingJoannicius II of Constantinople.^[4]

Parthenius III, who sided with theTsardom of Russia in the clashes for the control of the Church inUkraine, in 1656 denounced the 1643Confession of Faith of the previousMetropolitan of KyivPetro Mohyla, which he deemed to be too close to theCatholic doctrine.^[5] The Confession of Faith of Petro Mohyla had been however already approved by all the Greek-speaking Patriarchs in 1643, and it was again approved in 1662 by PatriarchNectarius of Jerusalem and by theSynod of Jerusalem (1672). Parthenius III also held a burial for the remains, recovered on a shore, of his predecessorCyril I of Constantinople, who was killed in 1638 on a ship in theSea of Marmara and his corpse thrown in the waters.

In order to raise funds, Parthenius III sent letters to a Greek bishop in theTsardom of Russia, at the time a political enemy of theOttoman Empire. His correspondence was intercepted and delivered to theGrand vizierKöprülü Mehmed Pasha, who decided that Parthenius III should stand for trial charged of treason.^[3] Though the accusations were proven false, SultanMehmed IV ordered his hanging in order to "set an example for those who may try that in future".^[4] The only option he was given to be freed was to convert toIslam, but Parthenius III refused.^[3]

Thus on 24 March 1657 a long procession walked with Parthenius III from his prison to a place in Constantinople named "Gate of the Hook" (Parmak Kapi) where he was hanged. He stayed hanged for three days and then was thrown into the sea. His body was found by Christians and was buried in the Kamariotissa Monastery on the island ofChalki.^[6]

• 17th-century Greek clergy
• 1657 deaths
• 17th-century Eastern Orthodox martyrs
• 17th-century ecumenical patriarchs of Constantinople
• Christian saints killed by Muslims
• People from Lesbos
• Christians executed for refusing to convert to Islam
• People executed by the Ottoman Empire by hanging
• Executed Greek people
• Greek Orthodox bishops of Chios

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