Gennadius Scholarius (1400–1473)
Born 1400 CE, died 1473 CE.
Gennadius II of Constantinople (Greek: Γεννάδιος; lay name: Γεώργιος Κουρτέσιος Σχολάριος, Georgios Kourtesios; c. 1400 – c. 1472) was a Byzantine philosopher and theologian, and Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople from 1454 to 1465. He was a strong advocate for the use of Aristotelian philosophy in the Orthodox Church. Following the Fall of Constantinople, Gennadius II was appointed Patriarch of Constantinople by the Ottoman Sultan. His opposition to the Union with the Catholic Church contributed to his selection, as it corresponded with the Ottoman interest in preserving the division between the Orthodox and Catholic Churches. During his tenure, Gennadius remained loyal to the Sultan and opposed initiatives aimed at reconciliation with Rome. Gennadius II was, together with his mentor, Mark of Ephesus, involved in the Council of Florence which aimed to end the schism between the Orthodox and Catholic churches. Gennadius II had studied and written extensively on Catholic theology. After the failure of the union of Florence and the Fall of Constantinople, Gennadius II became the first Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople under Ottoman rule.
Text from the Wikipedia article Gennadius_Scholarius, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.