Apocrisiarius

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

An apocrisiarius (Latinized from the Greek Αποκρισιάριος; sometimes Anglicized as Apocrisiary) was a high diplomatic representative during Late Antiquity and the early mediaeval period.

The 'purist' Latin term was responsalis "he who answers". The closest modern equivalent is a papal nuncio, but here also exists an equivalent Anglican title.

1 To posts in the East
2 In the West (after the fall of Rome)
3 Anglican
4 Sources and references

[edit] To posts in the East

An apocrisiarius was a cleric who served as the representative (also described as legate, a less precise term) of a Patriarch.

The most famous apocrisiarii were sent from circa 452 till 743, by the Pope, as head of the Catholic Church and (then still only Western) Patriarch of Rome, to the Byzantine "New Rome", Constantinople, the secular capital of the Eastern Roman Empire. This post was filled by several notable clergymen; some went on to become pope themselves, including Pope Gregory I, Pope Sabinian, Pope Boniface III and Pope Martin I.

The title was also used for the representative of a metropolitan archbishop at the court of his 'territorial' patriarch in either Constantinople, Alexandria, Antioch or Jerusalem. Furthermore, the same title was used for secular officials carrying correspondence of the Byzantine Emperor.

[edit] In the West (after the fall of Rome)

At the court of the Exarchate of Ravenna, apocrisiarii were the permanent representatives of the Pope and the Byzantine Emperor. In turn, at least during the pontificate of Pope Gregory I, the Archbishop of Ravenna had a special responsalis at the papal court.

From the reign of Charlemagne, the court of the Frankish kings had clerical members styled apocrisiarii. However, they were only royal archchaplains decorated with the title of the ancient papal envoys; they did not perform any diplomatic duties.