Patriarch Pyrrhus of Constantinople

Pyrrhus was the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople from 20 December 638 to 29 September 641, and again from 9 January to 1 June 654.

He was a supporter of Monotheletism, a christological doctrine propounded by the Emperor Heraclius. In 638, with the support of Heraclius, he was elected to the patriarchal throne. In the unrest following the death of Heraclius, he was accused of plotting against the life of Constantine III and banished to Africa.

While in exile, in 645 he conducted with Maximus the Confessor a public discussion on faith (Disputatio cum Pyrrho), after which he rejected Monothelitism, and visited Rome in 647. From there he continued to Ravenna and returned to Constantinople, where he again reversed his position and re-embraced Monothelitism. He was excommunicated by Pope Theodore I as a consequence, but succeeded in becoming again Patriarch in early 654, holding the office until his death on 1 June of the same year.

Preceded by Sergius I	Patriarch of Constantinople 638–641	Succeeded by Paul II
Preceded by Paul II	Patriarch of Constantinople 654	Succeeded by Peter

External links

• Richard Barrie Dobson, ed. Encyclopedia of the Middle Ages: Pyrrhus I of Constantinople. http://books.google.com.br/books?id=om4olQhrE84C&pg=PA1201&lpg=PA1201&dq=Pyrrhus+Constantinople&source=bl&ots=BeBcecFXpE&sig=4097iQ2wC2HV8hg3D2IM_zzhSPI&hl=pt-BR&ei=NEKPTZ3GLsHogQeyj8CkDQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=10&ved=0CGwQ6AEwCQ#v=onepage&q=Pyrrhus%20Constantinople&f=false.