By Panagiotis V. Koulpas,
Faculty of Theology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki
Faculty of Theology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki
Saint Jeremiah was born in the year 1485[1] in Zitsa of Ioannina. He was a man of great piety and virtue, though of limited formal education. At a young age he came under the guidance of the then Metropolitan of Ioannina, Theoleptos. The latter, appreciating the gifts of the young man from Ioannina, took him under his protection, tonsured him a monk, and ordained him deacon and presbyter. Later, the young Archimandrite Jeremiah went to Constantinople as a co-worker of his spiritual father, Metropolitan Theoleptos of Ioannina. The latter was elected Ecumenical Patriarch in the year 1518. In 1520 Saint Jeremiah was appointed Metropolitan of Sofia in Bulgaria.
Subsequently, in the year 1522,[2] he was elected for the first time Ecumenical Patriarch, as “Jeremiah I,” succeeding his deceased spiritual father and predecessor, Theoleptos. Nevertheless, he was compelled to be re-enthroned on the throne of the Apostle Andrew the First-Called in 1525, due to the uncanonical actions of Metropolitan Joannikios of Sozopolis. He remained in this position until 1537. As shepherd of Byzantium, Saint Jeremiah distinguished himself for his wisdom and humility, while at the same time showing particular zeal for the orderly functioning of the Ecumenical Patriarchate. He sent patriarchal letters regulating various matters of an administrative nature. He founded new dioceses (Argos and Nafplio, and Rhodes), restored the privileges of the Sacred Monastery of Eikosifoinissa on Mount Pangaion in Drama,[3] settled the issue of the election of the Archbishop of Sinai, and finally saved many churches of Constantinople from demolition by the Turks.
It is worth emphasizing that a special chapter in the life of Saint Jeremiah concerns the relationships he developed with a group of contemporary Saints, most of whom, with his blessing, founded monasteries in the Greek lands (Trikala, Halkidiki, Lesvos, Olympus, Grevena, Euboea (Evia), and Meteora). We refer to the following Holy Hierarchs: Bessarion II and Neophytos I, Metropolitans of Larissa and Trikka, Theonas, Archbishop of Thessaloniki, and Ignatios, Archbishop of Mitylene. Also, the Venerable Ascetics: Dionysios of Olympus and Nikanor of Mount Kallistratos in Grevena, David of Euboea, Philotheos of Sklataina in Trikala, the brothers Nektarios and Theophanes the Apsarades, and finally the likewise brother-ascetics Maximos and Joasaph. This last group of four venerable brother-ascetics originated from the homeland of Saint Jeremiah, Ioannina. Finally, during the Patriarchate of Saint Jeremiah, the Epirote by origin Saint John the Tailor (Ioannis the Raptis), from the village of Terovo in Ioannina, was martyred by fire in the year 1526 (April 18). This particular New Martyr, while in Constantinople, associated with Saint Jeremiah. The latter took an interest in his compatriot, encouraging him in his impending dreadful martyrdom. To this day, the memory of Saint John is honored annually in the parish church of Saint Marina in Ioannina, where mention is made of his martyrdom and his many miracles.
Undoubtedly, the figure of Saint Jeremiah has to this day been identified — rightly so — with the founding of the Athonite Sacred Monastery of Saint Nicholas “Stavronikita,” a monastery in whose development the Holy Patriarch was personally involved. Through many difficulties, he succeeded in expanding this old Philotheite dependency, endowing it with new splendor. He established the cenobitic system of life in the monastery (1541) and created new building facilities. Moreover, through his own efforts, the landed property of the new cenobium was increased, and he permitted the admission of many new monks to this newly founded monastic community, at the same time appointing the most suitable among them as abbot. As Patriarch, he ratified its patriarchal and imperial rights and privileges by signing what is known to this day as the “Sigillion of the Hierarchs.”[5] This official document is signed by sixty-eight hierarchs of the Patriarchal Throne, a rare number for the standards of that era. It is preserved to this day in the Monastery of Stavronikita.
Finally, in order to safeguard his beloved monastery from future ecclesiastical or administrative arbitrariness, he composed two important texts: his “Testament” and his “Admonitions.” This pair of texts contains information concerning the founding of this Sacred Monastery of Mount Athos, as well as a series of counsels given by Saint Jeremiah to the fathers dwelling in that monastery. According to the founder of the Monastery of Saint Nicholas, Patriarch Jeremiah, monks who reject or violate the provisions of these two texts, as well as of the “Sigillion of the Hierarchs,” are punished with excommunication and expelled from the monastery.
Saint Jeremiah eventually resigned from his patriarchal duties (third tenure: 1537–1546), departed for Tarnovo in Bulgaria, was tonsured a Great Schema monk and received the name “John,” and there he reposed peacefully on January 13, 1546.
On January 10, 2023, the Sacred Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate enrolled Jeremiah I of Constantinople in the Orthodox calendar of Saints, determining that his memory be celebrated annually on January 13, the day of his blessed repose. In this direction moved both the Sacred Monastery of Stavronikita and the Sacred Metropolis of Ioannina, honoring from the outset the memory of this chosen son of Epirus and, ultimately, founder of a Sacred Monastery of Mount Athos.
Bibliography
A. Saint Nikodemos the Hagiorite, New Martyrology, or the Martyrdoms of the Newly Appeared Martyrs, Athonite Establishment Editions, Thessaloniki, 2009.
B. Pavlos Apostolidis, Metropolitan of Drama, Pilgrimage Guides of the Sacred Monastery of Eikosifoinissa, Vol. I, 1st ed., Drama, 2013.
C. Manouil I. Gedeon, Patriarchal Tables, Vol. I, 2nd ed., Athens, 1996.
D. Sacred Monastery of Stavronikita (collective work), Saint Jeremiah I, Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople: Life and Hymnographic Service, 1st ed., Mount Athos, 2023.
References
[1] Sacred Monastery of Stavronikita (collective work), Saint Jeremiah I, Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople: Life and Hymnographic Service, 1st ed., p. 38, Mount Athos, 2023.
[2] Manouil I. Gedeon, Patriarchal Tables, Vol. I, 2nd ed., p. 379, Athens, 1996.
[3] Pavlos Apostolidis, Metropolitan of Drama, Pilgrimage Guides of the Sacred Monastery of Eikosifoinissa, Vol. I, 1st ed., p. 108, Drama, 2013.
[4] Saint Nikodemos the Hagiorite, New Martyrology, or the Martyrdoms of the Newly Appeared Martyrs, pp. 29–38, Thessaloniki, 2009.
[5] Sacred Monastery of Stavronikita (collective work), Saint Jeremiah I, Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople: Life and Hymnographic Service, 1st ed., pp. 113 and 118, Mount Athos, 2023.
Source: Translated by John Sanidopoulos.
