Michael I Cerularius

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Michael I Cerularius (c. 1000 - d. 1059), also known as Michael Keroularios or Patriarch Michael I, was the Patriarch of Constantinople from 1043 to 1059.

Born in Constantinople, Patriarch Michael I Cerularius is noted for disputing with Pope Leo IX over church practices where the Roman Church began to differ from Orthodoxy, especially the use of unleavened bread in the Eucharist.^[1] In 1054, Cardinal Humbert of Mourmoutiers delivered a bull of excommunication against Cerularius, despite the death of Pope Leo three months prior and the invalidity of the excommunication. Cerularius in turn excommunicated them, starting the Great Schism. This schism led to the end of the alliance between the Emperor and the Papacy, and caused later Popes to ally with the Normans against the Empire. In 1965, those excommunications were rescinded by Pope Paul VI and Patriarch Athenagoras when they met in the Second Vatican Council. Although the excommunication delivered by Cardinal Humbert was invalid, this gesture represented a significant step towards restoring communion between Rome and Constantinople.

Michael also quarrelled with Emperor Isaac I Comnenus over confiscation of church property. Michael was so enfuriated that he planned a rebellion to overthrow the Emperor and claim the Imperial Throne for himself^{[citation needed]}. He started wearing the Imperial Regalia publicly and called for popular uprising in his sermons when he died suddenly in 1059, though there was no suspicion that he was murdered.^{[citation needed]} The Emperor claimed that he was punished by God for trying to usurp his temporal powers.

Michael is also notable in that he closed the Latin churches in his area.

Preceded by Alexius I Studites

Patriarch of Constantinople 1043–1058

Succeeded by Constantine III Lichoudas

[edit] References

1. ^ Michael Cærularius - Catholic Encyclopedia article