Nectarius of Jerusalem, born Nikolaos Pelopidis ( grc-gre, Νεκτάριος Πελοπίδης, 1602–1676), was the

Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem , image = , imagewidth = , alt = , caption = Coat of arms , abbreviation = , type = , main_classification = , orientation = , scripture = ...

from 1661 to 1669.''"Νεκτάριος, Πατριάρχης Ιεροσολύμων."'' '
Θρησκευτική και Ηθική Εγκυκλοπαίδεια
(ΘΗΕ). Τόμος 09, Εκδ. Μαρτίνος Αθαν., Αθήναι 1966. σελ. 396-397.

Biography

Patriarch Nectarius was born Nikolaos Pelopidis near Heraklion in

Crete Crete ( el, Κρήτη, translit=, Modern: , Ancient: ) is the largest and most populous of the Greek islands, the 88th largest island in the world and the fifth largest island in the Mediterranean Sea, after Sicily, Sardinia, Cyprus, and ...

in 1602. He was educated by the monks of

Saint Catherine's Monastery Saint Catherine's Monastery ( ar, دير القدّيسة كاترين; grc-gre, Μονὴ τῆς Ἁγίας Αἰκατερίνης), officially the Sacred Autonomous Royal Monastery of Saint Katherine of the Holy and God-Trodden Mount Sinai, ...

, who were operating the Sinaitic Academy in Herakleion at that time, eventually becoming a

monk A monk (, from el, μοναχός, ''monachos'', "single, solitary" via Latin ) is a person who practices religious asceticism by monastic living, either alone or with any number of other monks. A monk may be a person who decides to dedica ...

himself in

Sinai Sinai commonly refers to: * Sinai Peninsula, Egypt * Mount Sinai, a mountain in the Sinai Peninsula, Egypt * Biblical Mount Sinai, the site in the Bible where Moses received the Law of God Sinai may also refer to: * Sinai, South Dakota, a place ...

. Kattenbusch, Ferdinand (Ph.D, Th.D.). '
NECTARIUS: Patriarch of Jerusalem
"'' In: Jackson, Samuel Macauley, Ed. (1914). New Schaff-Herzog Encyclopedia of Religious Knowledge, Vol. VIII: Morality - Petersen. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Baker Book House, 1953. p. 98. About 1645 he studied at

Athens Athens ( ; el, Αθήνα, Athína ; grc, Ἀθῆναι, Athênai (pl.) ) is both the capital and largest city of Greece. With a population close to four million, it is also the seventh largest city in the European Union. Athens dominates ...

with the Neo- Aristotelian philosopher and scholar

Theophilos Corydalleus Theophilos Corydalleus (; el, Θεόφιλος Κορυδαλλεύς, Theofilos Korydallefs; 1563–1646) was a Greek Neo-Aristotelian philosopher who initiated the philosophical movement known as Korydalism or Corydalism. He was also an Ea ...

. Early in 1661 he was in

Constantinople la, Constantinopolis ota, قسطنطينيه , alternate_name = Byzantion (earlier Greek name), Nova Roma ("New Rome"), Miklagard/Miklagarth (Old Norse), Tsargrad ( Slavic), Qustantiniya (Arabic), Basileuousa ("Queen of Cities"), Megalopolis (" ...

on business connected with his monastery, and on his return to Sinai he was chosen abbot (25-1-1661). However, on his way to

Jerusalem Jerusalem (; he, יְרוּשָׁלַיִם ; ar, القُدس ) (combining the Biblical and common usage Arabic names); grc, Ἱερουσαλήμ/Ἰεροσόλυμα, Hierousalḗm/Hierosóluma; hy, Երուսաղեմ, Erusałēm. i ...

to be consecrated, he was informed that he had been chosen Patriarch of the Holy City, and was

consecrated Consecration is the solemn dedication to a special purpose or service. The word ''consecration'' literally means "association with the sacred". Persons, places, or things can be consecrated, and the term is used in various ways by different grou ...

on April 9, 1661. As he was fond of learning and of music, he arranged for the establishment of schools in Constantinople, in Arta and Chios. In addition, he repaired the

Church of the Holy Sepulchre The Church of the Holy Sepulchre, hy, Սուրբ Հարության տաճար, la, Ecclesia Sancti Sepulchri, am, የቅዱስ መቃብር ቤተክርስቲያን, he, כנסיית הקבר, ar, كنيسة القيامة is a church i ...

in Jerusalem, and cared for the reconstruction of monastic houses and

guest houses A guest house (also guesthouse) is a kind of lodging. In some parts of the world (such as the Caribbean), guest houses are a type of inexpensive hotel-like lodging. In others, it is a private home that has been converted for the exclusive use ...

for visitors there. When he was present in

Iași Iași ( , , ; also known by other alternative names), also referred to mostly historically as Jassy ( , ), is the second largest city in Romania and the seat of Iași County. Located in the historical region of Moldavia, it has traditionally ...

, the capital of

Moldavia Moldavia ( ro, Moldova, or , literally "The Country of Moldavia"; in Romanian Cyrillic: or ; chu, Землѧ Молдавскаѧ; el, Ἡγεμονία τῆς Μολδαβίας) is a historical region and former principality in Centr ...

, he became involved with the issues surrounding

Patriarch Nikon Nikon ( ru , Ни́кон, Old Russian: ''Нїконъ''), born Nikita Minin (''Никита Минин''; 7 May 1605 – 17 August 1681) was the seventh Patriarch of Moscow and all Rus' of the Russian Orthodox Church, serving officially from ...

of Moscow and all the Rus'. In July 1663, when Pantaleon Ligarid and Archbishop Josef of Astrakhan tried to officially depose Patriarch Nikon from his cathedra, Patriarch Nectarius of Jerusalem protested in 1664 against their intended trial of Patriarch Nikon, because he saw no serious basis for it. He also knew Ligarid well, considering him a rogue. He is known by his recommendation of the ''Confessio Orthodoxa'' of Peter Mogilas (1645), which he endorsed in 1662.Proeschel, J.N. ''"2. Nectarius (Patriarch of Jerusalem)."'' In: McClintock, John and James Strong. Cyclopaedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature. Vol. VI ‒ ME-NEV. New York: Harper and Brother Publishers, 1882. p. 914. As early as 1666 he sought to be relieved of his duties, and by 1669

Dositheos Notaras Dositheus II Notaras of Jerusalem ( el, Δοσίθεος Β΄ Ἱεροσολύμων; Arachova 31 May 1641 – Constantinople 8 February 1707) was the Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem between 1669 and 1707 and a theologian of the Eastern Or ...

had become his successor. He participated in the Synod of Jerusalem in 1672, that refuted the Calvinist confessions of

Cyril Lucaris Cyril Lucaris or Loukaris ( el, Κύριλλος Λούκαρις, 13 November 1572 – 27 June 1638), born Constantine Lucaris, was a Greek prelate and theologian, and a native of Candia, Crete (then under the Republic of Venice). He later bec ...

. After his resignation, Nectarius remained in Jerusalem, except for a short time when he was driven to Mount Sinai by Latin monks who came to Palestine with Roman Catholic crusaders. Later he remained at the Monastery of The Holy Archangels (Andromedos, Joppa) until his death. Patriarch Nectarius died on July 14, 1676.

Writings

Patriarch Nectarius was versed in the Greek, Arabic, Turkish, and Latin languages. During his patriarchate, Romish emissaries were very active in endeavoring to persuade the Greek Christians of Palestine, suffering under the yoke of the Turks, to unite with the Church of Rome. Among them a

Franciscan The Franciscans are a group of related Mendicant orders, mendicant Christianity, Christian Catholic religious order, religious orders within the Catholic Church. Founded in 1209 by Italian Catholic friar Francis of Assisi, these orders include t ...

, named Peter, was especially active in distributing five tracts in defense of the

papal authority The pope ( la, papa, from el, πάππας, translit=pappas, 'father'), also known as supreme pontiff ( or ), Roman pontiff () or sovereign pontiff, is the bishop of Rome (or historically the patriarch of Rome), head of the worldwide Cathol ...

. Nectarius' refutation of these tracts regarding papal supremacy was among the most important of his writings, in a publication entitled: ''Κατά τῆς ἀρχῆς τοῦ Παπᾶ'', a firm refutation of the Roman Catholic theses. He also wrote a work in Greek against the doctrines of

Luther Luther may refer to: People * Martin Luther (1483–1546), German monk credited with initiating the Protestant Reformation * Martin Luther King Jr. (1929-1968), American minister and leader in the American civil rights movement * Luther (give ...

and

Calvin Calvin may refer to: Names * Calvin (given name) ** Particularly Calvin Coolidge, 30th President of the United States * Calvin (surname) ** Particularly John Calvin, theologian Places In the United States * Calvin, Arkansas, a hamlet * Calvi ...

, which was translated into Latin by Renaudot, who published it, together with Gennadius' ''Homilies on the Eucharist.''(

Paris Paris () is the capital and most populous city of France, with an estimated population of 2,165,423 residents in 2019 in an area of more than 105 km² (41 sq mi), making it the 30th most densely populated city in the world in 2020. S ...

, 1709, 4to). In his doctrine of the

Eucharist The Eucharist (; from Greek , , ), also known as Holy Communion and the Lord's Supper, is a Christian rite that is considered a sacrament in most churches, and as an ordinance in others. According to the New Testament, the rite was instit ...

, Nectarius was strictly Orthodox, and a zealous opponent of

and the

Calvinistic Calvinism (also called the Reformed Tradition, Reformed Protestantism, Reformed Christianity, or simply Reformed) is a major branch of Protestantism that follows the theological tradition and forms of Christian practice set down by John Calv ...

movement. In addition, Nectarius is said to have written a history of the

Egyptian empire The New Kingdom, also referred to as the Egyptian Empire, is the period in ancient Egyptian history between the sixteenth century BC and the eleventh century BC, covering the Eighteenth, Nineteenth, and Twentieth dynasties of Egypt. Radioc ...

down to Sultan Selim. In this Arabic manuscript (which he composed in Greek), he states that he personally witnessed a miracle in the region of

Heliopolis, Egypt Heliopolis (I͗wnw, Iunu or 𓉺𓏌𓊖; egy, I͗wnw, 'the Pillars'; cop, ⲱⲛ; gr, Ἡλιούπολις, Hēlioúpοlis, City of the Sun) was a major city of ancient Egypt. It was the capital of the 13th or Heliopolite Nome of Lower Eg ...

, similar to the narrative of ''The Valley of Dry Bones,''
Ezekiel 37:1-14
in which the prophet sees the dead rise again.'' The Rudder (Pēdálion)'': Of the metaphorical ship of the One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church of the Orthodox Christians, or all the sacred and divine canons of the holy and renowned Apostles, of the holy Councils, ecumenical as well as regional, and of individual fathers, as embodied in the original Greek text, for the sake of authenticity, and explained in the vernacular by way of rendering them more intelligible to the less educated. :Comp. Agapius a Hieromonk and Nicodemus a Monk. First printed and published A.D.1800. Trans. D. Cummings, from the 5th edition published by John Nicolaides (Kesisoglou the Caesarian) in Athens, Greece in 1908, (Chicago: The Orthodox Christian Educational Society, 1957; Repr., New York, N.Y.: Luna Printing Co., 1983). pp. 10-11.

Notes

References

Sources

* Kattenbusch, Ferdinand (Ph.D, Th.D.). '
NECTARIUS: Patriarch of Jerusalem
"'' In: Jackson, Samuel Macauley, Ed. (1914). New Schaff-Herzog Encyclopedia of Religious Knowledge, Vol. VIII: Morality - Petersen. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Baker Book House, 1953. p. 98. * Proeschel, J.N. ''"2. Nectarius (Patriarch of Jerusalem)."'' In: McClintock, John and James Strong. Cyclopaedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature. Vol. VI ‒ ME-NEV. New York: Harper and Brother Publishers, 1882. p. 914. * ''"Νεκτάριος, Πατριάρχης Ιεροσολύμων."'' '
Θρησκευτική και Ηθική Εγκυκλοπαίδεια
(ΘΗΕ). Τόμος 09, Εκδ. Μαρτίνος Αθαν., Αθήναι 1966. σελ. 396–397. * Μανούσακας Μ. Ι.. ''Η Επιτομή της Ιεροκοσμικής Ιστορίας του Νεκταρίου Ιεροσολύμων και αι πηγαί αυτής.'' Κρητικά Χρονικά. τομ.1 (1947), σελ. 291–332. * Fabricius, Johann Albert.
Ioannis Alberti Fabricii... Bibliotheca Graeca: Sive Notitia Scriptorum Vetervm Graecorvm
'' Editio Nova:

Gottlieb Christoph Harless Gottlieb Christoph Harless (originally Harles) (21 June 1738 – 2 November 1815) was a German classical scholar and bibliographer. Biography He was born at Culmbach in Bavaria. He studied at the universities of Halle, Erlangen and Jena. In ...

, Christoph August Heumann. Volvmen Nonvm. Hambvrgi: Apud Carolvm Ernestvm Bohn, 1804. p. 310. {{Authority control 1602 births 1676 deaths 17th-century Greek Orthodox Patriarchs of Jerusalem Eastern Orthodox theologians Eastern Orthodox Christians from Greece Eastern Orthodox monks People from Heraklion (regional unit) Clergy from Heraklion