Peter III of Raqqa

Peter III of Raqqa
Syriac Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch and All the East
Church Syriac Orthodox Church
See Antioch
Installed 581
Term ended 591
Predecessor Paul II
Successor Julian I
Personal details
Born Raqqa, Byzantine Empire
Died 22 April 591
Monastery of Gubba Barraya, Byzantine Empire

Peter III of Raqqa[1] (Latin: Petrus Callinicus; Peter of Callinicum), was the Patriarch of Antioch and head of the Syriac Orthodox Church from 581 until his death in 591.

Biography

Peter was born in the 6th century in the city of Raqqa, here he became fluent in Greek and Syriac as well as obtaining a fair knowledge of philosophy and theology. Peter replaced his father, Paul II, upon his death in 581 and was consecrated patriarch by Pope Damian of Alexandria at the Mor Hananyo Monastery.

Afterwards, Peter traveled to Alexandria to promote religious ties with the Patriarchate of Alexandria. Whilst here, however, Peter was accused of Tritheism by Pope Damian of Alexandria and in turn accused him of Sabellianism. Peter replied to the accusations at length in his Adversus Tritheistas or Many-lined Letter.

The work abounds in citations from earlier Greek authors, including the Cappadocians, John Chrysostom, Cyril of Alexandria as well as Severus of Antioch, translated into Syriac. It deals intensively with the theological and philosophical terminology involved with and illustrates the consequences of the rejection of the Chalcedonian Definition in Syriac monastic circles. This created a schism between the Alexandrian and Antiochene churches that lasted for almost a decade after Damian's death.[2]

Peter died at the Monastery of Gubba Barraya on the 22nd of April, 591.[3]

Works

References

  1. William Taylor, Antioch and Canterbury: the Syrian Orthodox Church and the Church of England, 1874-1928, Gorgias Press 2006, p.15 n.1.
  2. Alois Grillmeier, Theresia Hainthaler, O.C. Dean, Christ in Christian Tradition, Vol.2, Pt.4, pp.75-81.
  3. The Scattered Pearls: A History of Syriac Literature and Sciences - Ighnāṭyūs Afrām I (Patriarch of Antioch) - Google Books. Books.google.co.uk.
Preceded by
Paul II
Syrian Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch
581–591
Succeeded by
Julian I
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