Sisinnius II ( el, Σισίννιος, Sisinnios; died 24 August 998) became

Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople The ecumenical patriarch ( el, Οἰκουμενικός Πατριάρχης, translit=Oikoumenikós Patriárchēs) is the archbishop of Constantinople (Istanbul), New Rome and '' primus inter pares'' (first among equals) among the heads of th ...

in 996 and held the post until his death in 998. According to the histories of

John Skylitzes John Skylitzes, commonly Latinized as Ioannes, la, Johannes, label=none, la, Iōannēs, label=none Scylitzes ( el, Ἰωάννης Σκυλίτζης, ''Iōánnēs Skylítzēs'', or el, Σκυλίτση, ''Skylítsē'', label=none ; la, ...

and

Zonaras Joannes or John Zonaras ( grc-gre, Ἰωάννης Ζωναρᾶς ; 1070 – 1140) was a Byzantine Greek historian, chronicler and theologian who lived in Constantinople (modern-day Istanbul, Turkey). Under Emperor Alexios I Komnenos he held th ...

, he was extremely well educated, particularly in medical matters, and had been honoured with the office of ''

magistros The ''magister officiorum'' (Latin literally for "Master of Offices", in gr, μάγιστρος τῶν ὀφφικίων, magistros tōn offikiōn) was one of the most senior administrative officials in the Later Roman Empire and the early centu ...

''. He was elected to the patriarchate on 12 April 996, after the see had remained vacant for four years, due to the preoccupation of Emperor

Basil II Basil II Porphyrogenitus ( gr, Βασίλειος Πορφυρογέννητος ;) and, most often, the Purple-born ( gr, ὁ πορφυρογέννητος, translit=ho porphyrogennetos).. 958 – 15 December 1025), nicknamed the Bulgar S ...

with his

wars War is an intense armed conflict between states, governments, societies, or paramilitary groups such as mercenaries, insurgents, and militias. It is generally characterized by extreme violence, destruction, and mortality, using regular o ...

against the

Bulgarians Bulgarians ( bg, българи, Bǎlgari, ) are a nation and South Slavic ethnic group native to Bulgaria and the rest of Southeast Europe. Etymology Bulgarians derive their ethnonym from the Bulgars. Their name is not completely understo ...

. On 21 February 997, he issued a ''tomos'' on prohibiting marriage between persons related to the fifth or sixth degree. These regulations are soon after attested in juridical decisions, but appear to have also caused some opposition (''Logos Antirrhetikos'' of Skribas Nikolaos, ). Two other canons on prohibitions related to marriages are also attributed to him, but are considered as fake by modern scholars. A later note in Skylitzes' account also reports that Sisinnius managed to finally lay to rest the quarrels of the Tetragamy affair of

Leo VI the Wise Leo VI, called the Wise ( gr, Λέων ὁ Σοφός, Léōn ho Sophós, 19 September 866 – 11 May 912), was Byzantine Emperor from 886 to 912. The second ruler of the Macedonian dynasty (although his parentage is unclear), he was very well r ...

(). In 997/8, he also issued a ''typikon'' concerning the provision of the

Metropolitan of Alania Metropolitan may refer to: * Metropolitan area, a region consisting of a densely populated urban core and its less-populated surrounding territories * Metropolitan borough, a form of local government district in England * Metropolitan county, a typ ...

in the patriarchal monastery of Epiphanios in Kerasus. Sisinnius was also the recipient of three letters from

Leo of Synada Leo of Synada ( – after 1003) was a Byzantine cleric, diplomat and writer of the late 10th century. Life Origin and family Leo was born in , likely in 937.. Leo and his life are known only through his letters, written during the reign of Basil II ...

. He died on 24 August 998. His successor was

Sergius II of Constantinople Sergius II ( el, Σέργιος Β′; ? – July 1019) was the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople from July 1001 to 1019. According to the history of John Skylitzes, he was a relative of the celebrated 9th-century patriarch Photius. In 1001 ...

, who was elected in 1001.

References

Sources

Official website of the Ecumenic Patriarchate of Constantinople
* {{DEFAULTSORT:Sisinnius 02 Of Constantinople 998 deaths 10th-century births 10th-century patriarchs of Constantinople Year of birth unknown Magistroi Basil II