Raphael I of Constantinople | |
|---|---|
| Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople | |
| Church | Church of Constantinople |
| In office | Early 1475 – early 1476 |
| Predecessor | Symeon I of Constantinople |
| Successor | Maximus III of Constantinople |
| Personal details | |
| Died | 1476 (1477) |
| Denomination | Eastern Orthodoxy |
Raphael I of Constantinople (Greek:Ραφαήλ,Rafail;Serbian:Рафаило I /Rafailo I; died 1476) wasEcumenical Patriarch of Constantinople from 1475 to 1476.[1][2]
Raphael was aSerbian monk.[3] He probably was chosen and supported as Patriarch byMara Branković,[3] the stepmother ofMehmed II.[3] Raphael was successfully appointed Patriarch in the first months of 1475,[1] promising theSultan a yearly payment of 2000 goldflorins and a one-time gift of 700 gold florins.[4]
TheGreek community ofConstantinople had not part in his appointment and fiercely opposed him. TheMetropolitan ofHeraclea, who traditionally enthroned the new patriarch, refused to consecrate him, and the liturgy was celebrated by the Metropolitan ofAncyra.[5] For this reason he was not recognized as Patriarch by a large part of the Greek clergy.
In September 1475, he appointed Spyridon of Tver as new Eastern OrthodoxMetropolis of Kiev and all Rus'.[6]
The sources show an extended bias against Raphael I.[7] He is accused of not speaking properlyGreek and is denounced for his foreign accent and for his addiction to alcohol.[3] It is reported that he was not able to stand during the ceremonies of theGreat Friday because he was drunk.[3]
Raphael I reigned for about one year, until early 1476: at the beginning of the year, when he had to pay the annual gift he had promised to the Sultan, he tried to collect it from his faithful, who denied their help.[4] Unable to pay the requested fee, he was immediately deposed and imprisoned. He died shortly after still in chains.
| Eastern Orthodox Church titles | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople 1475 – 1476 | Succeeded by |