Gennadius (c. 1400–c. 1468)

Greek scholar and theologian. He attended the Council of Florence as a representative of the Eastern Church and at first supported the reconciliation of the Eastern and Western Churches, but later became a firm opponent of the union. In 1453, when Constantinople fell to the Ottoman Turks, Sultan Mehmet II made him patriarch of Constantinople.

Perhaps born in Constantinople (the details of his early life are obscure), he came to Italy in 1438 as counsellor to Emperor John Palaeologus at the Council of Florence. Here he wrote works attacking the philosopher Plethon on both theological and philosophical grounds. On the schism between Eastern and Western Churches, Scholarius advocated compromise and drew up a form of agreement ambiguous enough to be accepted by both, but on his return to Greece, he completely changed his position.

In 1448 he became a monk and took the name Gennadius. When made patriarch of Constantinople in 1453 he composed an exposition of Christian belief for the sultan's use, but eventually found the strain of being patriarch of a Muslim city too much and retired to Serrae in Macedonia where he died.