03-16-2007, 09:36 PM
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Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: In your head
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In later Byzantine history the claim that the Patriarch of Constantinople was in lineal descent from Andrew, the first apostle, was promoted in contrast to the Roman claims of descent from Peter.
Demetrius Kymenas, deriving his comments from the Thriskeftiki kai Ethiki Encyclopaedia (Athens 1962-8) sums up the situation as follows:- It is difficult to say where the legend stops and where reality begins. However, the Apostle Andrew preached in the general area and according to the tradition he ordained the first bishop of Byzantium (Stachys), the first bishop of Nicaea (Drakonteios), the first bishop of Chalkedon (Tychikos), the first bishop of Sinope (Philologos), the first bishop of Thracian Herakliea (Apellis), etc. (He ordained many of the Seventy Apostles as bishops in cities of Asia Minor, Thrace and Greece). Because the lord of the small cityof Byzantium, Xeuxikus, was brutal and a fanatic pagan who used to tie and throw in the sea any Christian who visited his city, Andrew resided in nearby Argyroupolis (later a suburb of Constantinople), and there he stayed for two years during which time he managed to create a Christian community of 2000 people along with their church and episcopate. It is not clear if Stachys is the same person with the one the Apostle Peter calls "dear" in his letter to the Romans, but his memory is celebrated by the Orthodox church on October 31.
Here's the list, with some more comments taken mostly from Thriskeftiki kai Ethiki Encyclopaedia (Athens 1962-8)
Andrew the Apostle c.36-c.38, feast day November 30.
Stachys 38-54, feast day October 31.
Onesimus 54-68
Polykarpos I 71-89
Plutarch 89-105
Sedekion 105-114
Diogenes 114-129
Eleutherios 129-136
Felix 136-141
Polycarpos II 141-144
Athenodoros 144-148.
In order to avoid pagan raids, Athenodorus left Argyroupolis and built a second episcopal church at a location farther away from the sea, called Elaia. This church was later expanded by Constantine the Great, who wished to be buried there-but that didn't occured as it was decided not to bury emperors outside the city walls. (The church was dedicated to the Seven Maccabean Children and their teacher Eleazarus.)
Euzoios 148-154
Lawrence 154-166 (Laurentios)
His episcopate lasted 11 years and 6 months.
Alypios 166-169
Pertinax 169-187
Olympianos 187-198
Mark I 198-211
Philadelphos 211-217
Kyriacos I 217-230
Kastinos 230-237, feast day January 25.
He transfered his see to Byzantium and became the first Bishop to reside in the city.
Eugenios I 237-242.
Kedrinos calls him "second bishop" (Synopsis Istorion A', p.551), probably meaning the second bishop to reside in Byzantium.
Titos 242-272
Dometios 272-284
brother of the Roman Emperor Probus 276-282. He is believed to have built the fourth episcopal church inside Byzantium, dedicated to Saint Euphemia.
Rouphinos 284-293
Probos 293-306, son of Dometius
Metrophanes I 306-314
possibly son of Probus.
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