Patriarch Paisius of Alexandria

Paisius (Greek: Παΐσιος) was the Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Alexandria between the years 1657 and 1678.

In 1665, the Patriarch of Constantinople Parthenios IV deposed him from his throne,^[1] citing his many years of absence from Egypt, but the decision was not accepted by the flock and with the help of Russian diplomacy he was reinstated.^[2]

As Patriarch, he went to Moscow at the invitation of Tsar Alexis. He appointed him as head of the Great Moscow Synod of 1666, which condemned the Patriarch of Moscow Nikon for dereliction of duty. He stayed in Russia for years and secured significant financial aid for the Patriarchate of Alexandria from the Tsar. After 1666, he wrote an account of the Synod's condemnation of Patriarch Nikon of Moscow in the form of a polemical essay in support of the absolute authority of the Russian Tsar in theological matters.^[3]

In 1678, he abdicated the Patriarchal Throne due to his advanced age. He was succeeded by Parthenius I of Alexandria.

References

1. "Υπόμνημα της Ιεραρχίας του Ιεροσολυμιτικού Πατριαρχείου" (PDF). Γρηγόριος ο Παλαμάς. ΜΘ: 679. 1920. Retrieved 1 May 2022.
2. АЛЕКСАНДРИЙСКАЯ ПРАВОСЛАВНАЯ ЦЕРКОВЬ (АЛЕКСАНДРИЙСКИЙ ПАТРИАРХАТ)
3. William Palmer (trans.), History of the Condemnation of the Patriarch Nicon By a Plenary Council of the Orthodox Catholic Eastern Church Held at Moscow A.D. 1666–1667 (1873).

Preceded by Joannicius	Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Alexandria 1657–1678	Succeeded by Parthenius I