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His Beatitude '''Neophytos of Chios''' was the Patriarch of the [[Church of Antioch]] from 1673 to 1682. He disputed with [[Cyril III Zaim of AntochAntioch|Cyril III]] for the throne of the Church of Antioch.
==Life==
Little is known of the early life of Neophytos. He came from the island of Chios, but was educated by Jesuits in Damascus. He was the nephew of Patriarch [[Euthymius III of Chios]] who preceded him as patriarch. Neophytos was appointed [[vicar]] in Aleppo during the reign of Patr. [[Macarius III (Zaim) of Antioch|Macarius III Zaim]] and in 1672 was appointed [[bishop]] of Hama.
After the death of Patr. Macarius III in 1672, his nephew, Constantine Zaim was elected patriarch with the support of the governor of Damascus and was consecrated bishop with the name of Cyril III. The election of Cyril III was contested by local bishops and by [[Dositheus II Notarius of Jerusalem|Dositheos]], the patriarch of Jerusalem, contending that his election was null because Cyril III, who was twenty, was not of legal age to be appointed bishop.
