Theophanes III of Jerusalem

Theophanes III of Jerusalem was the Patriarch of Jerusalem of the Church of Jerusalem from 1608 to 1644.

The early life of Patr. Theophanes is largely unknown. As the successor to Patr. Sophronius IV, Patr. Theophanes continued Sophronius' defense of Orthodox rights to the Christian shrines in the Holy Lands. In 1611, with a decree from the sultan, Theophanes was able to fend off the Armenians from taking over the celebration of the Holy Light.

Due to careless financial management by Serbian monks who lived at the Lavra of St. Savas, Theophanes was forced to sell holy heirlooms of value to avert surrendering the Lavra and its metohion of the Archangel to the Latins and Armenians. During 1631 to 1634, the patriarch was successful in obtaining a number of Firmans from Sultan Murat that continued those of Mohammed the Pillager and Selim, thus fending off demands of the French ambassador in Constantinople.

In April 1619, Patr. Theophanes traveled to Moscow to participate in the enthronement of Metr. Philaret as Patriarch of Moscow on June 1,1619. In August 1620, when he was returning from his visit to Moscow, Patr. Theophanes consecrated Job (Boretsky) as Metropolitan of Kiev and other bishops, during a stop in Kiev. These consecrations restored the Orthodox hierarchy in the area that was occupied by bishops of the Unia after the Union of Brest in 1596 when Metr. Michael (Ragoza) turned to support the union.

Patr. Theophanes reposed in 1644.

Reference

Succession box: Theophanes III of Jerusalem
Preceded by: Sophronius IV	Patriarch of Jerusalem 1608-1644	Succeeded by: Paisios

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Sources

• Period of the Ottoman Turks Rule
• Kiev
• Encyclopedia of Ukraine - Boretsky Yov