Failed conspiracy of bishops to replace patriarch Alexios Stoudites with Ioannes orphanotrophos

Summary:
Ioannes orphanotrophos wished to become patriarch of Constantinople and befriended a number of important churchmen, persuading them to support him. These included the metropolitans of Ankara, Kyzikos, Nikomedia and Side. They attacked the current patriarch, Alexios I, because he had been appointed by Basileios II rather than elected canonically. Alexios replied that if he were to step down because of his alleged irregular appointment, then those metropolitans he ordained during his eleven and a half years at the helm of the Church should be deposed, and the three emperors he crowned should be anathematised. This retort shamed his attackers and encouraged their opponents and the orphanotrophos' plan failed. 
Dates:
1037 
Alexios Stoudites, patriarch of Constantinople (Alexios 11)
  • Was accused by the metropolitans conspiring to bring him down and replace him on the patriarchal throne by Ioannes 68 (Demetrios 101, Antonios 101, Anonymus 162, Anonymus 163) of having been appointed by Basileios 2 and not elected by the prelates (:) Skylitzes 401.67-74
  • Retorted that if he were to step down because of his alleged irregular appointment, then those metropolitans he ordained during his 11 and a half years at the helm of the Church should be deposed, and the 3 emperors he crowned should be anathematised (:) ἀναθεματισθήτωσαν δὲ καὶ οὓς ἔστεψα τρεῖς βασιλεῖς Skylitzes 401.74-77
  • At the time of the conspiracy by the metropolitans of Kyzikos, Nikomedeia, Side, Ankyra, and others (Demetrios 101, Antonios 101, Anonymus 162, Anonymus 163) to depose him he had served at the helm of the Church for 11 and a half years ἐπὶ ἔνδεκα πρὸς τῷ ἡμίσει χρόνους τὴν ἐκκλησίαν ἰθύνας Skylitzes 401.75-76
  • Anonymi 6016 professed to Ioannes 68 that they would depose him, on the grounds that he had not been appointed by a common vote, but by imperial authority (:) οὐ ψήφῷ κοινῇ προχειρισθέντα, ἀλλ ᾿ ἐξουσίᾳ βασιλικῇ Zonaras 17.15.25
  • Retorted 'If I was made patriarch uncanonically, as you say, let all those appointed by me also be deposed together with me.' (:) οὐ κανονικῶς Zonaras 17.15.26
  • Anonymi 6017 were provoked by his words to rebel against Anonymi 6016 for denouncing him, and the desire of Ioannes 68 remained unfulfilled (:) Zonaras 17.15.27
senior churchmen befriended by Ioannes orphanotrophos (Anonymi 6016)
  • Anonymi 6017 were provoked by the words of Alexios 11 to rebel against them for denouncing Alexios 11, and the desire of Ioannes 68 remained unfulfilled (:) Zonaras 17.15.27
  • Professed to Ioannes 68 that they would depose Alexios 11, on the grounds that he had not been appointed by a common vote, but by imperial authority (:) οὐ ψήφῷ κοινῇ προχειρισθέντα, ἀλλ᾿ ἐξουσίᾳ βασιλικῇ Zonaras 17.15.25
major churchmen not befriended by Ioannes Orphanotrophos (Anonymi 6017)
bishop of Side in 1030s (Anonymus 162)
  • Bishop of Side (D) ὁ τῆς Σίδης Skylitzes 401.69
  • Conspired with Demetrios 101 of Kyzikos, Antonios 101 of Nikomedeia, the metropolitan of Ankyra (Anonymus 163) and other prelates to bring down Alexios 11 and replace him on the patriarchal throne with Ioannes 68 who craved for this office (:) Skylitzes 401.67-71
  • Was humiliated and silenced by the patriarch's response that if he (Alexios 11) were to step down because of his alleged irregular appointment, then those metropolitans he had ordained, including most of those accusing him, should be deposed too (:) καὶ αἰσχύνης καὶ δέους πλησθέντες Skylitzes 401.74-79
bishop of Ankyra in 1030s (Anonymus 163)
  • Bishop of Ankyra (Phrygia) (D) Ἀγκύρας Skylitzes 401.69
  • Conspired with Demetrios 101 of Kyzikos, Antonios 101 of Nikomedeia, the metropolitan of Side (Anonymus 162) and other prelates to bring down Alexios 11 and replace him on the patriarchal throne with Ioannes 68 who craved for this office (:) Skylitzes 401.67-71
  • Was humiliated and silenced by the patriarch's response that if he (Alexios 11) were to step down because of his alleged irregular appointment, then those metropolitans he had ordained, including most of those accusing him, should be deposed too (:) καὶ αἰσχύνης καὶ δέους πλησθέντες Skylitzes 401.74-79
Antonios Paches, bishop of Nikomedeia [1039] (Antonios 101)
  • Conspired with Demetrios 101 of Kyzikos, the metropolitan of Side and Ankyra (Anonymus 162, Anonymus 163) and other prelates to bring down Alexios 11 and replace him on the patriarchal throne with Ioannes 68 who craved for this office (:) Skylitzes 401.67-71
  • Was humiliated and silenced by the patriarch's response that if he (Alexios 11) were to step down because of his alleged irregular appointment, then those metropolitans he had ordained, including most of those accusing him, should be deposed too (:) καὶ αἰσχύνης καὶ δέους πλησθέντες Skylitzes 401.74-79
Demetrios, metropolitan of Kyzikos [1028, 1029, 1032, 1039] (Demetrios 101)
  • Was humiliated and silenced by the patriarch's response that if he (Alexios 11) were to step down because of his alleged irregular appointment, then those metropolitans he had ordained, including most of those accusing him, should be deposed too (:) καὶ αἰσχύνης καὶ δέους πλησθέντες Skylitzes 401.74-79
  • Conspired with Antonios 101 of Nikomedeia, the metropolitans of Side and Ankyra (Anonymus 162, Anonymus 163) and other prelates to bring down Alexios 11 and replace him on the patriarchal throne with Ioannes 68 who craved for this office (:) Skylitzes 401.67-71
Ioannes the Orphanotrophos, brother of Michael IV (Ioannes 68)
  • Desired the (patriarchal) throne of Constantinople, and Demetrios 101 of Kyzikos, Antonios 101 of Nikomedeia, the metropolitans of Side and Ankyra (Anonymus 162, Anonymus 163) and other prelates conspired to replace Alexios 11 with him (:) τοῦ θρόνου Κωνσταντινουπόλεως ἐρῶντος Skylitzes 401.67-71
  • His desire to occupy the patriarchal throne abated after Alexios 11 pointed out to the metropolitans accusing him that if he were to step down because of his alleged irregular appointment, then those metropolitans he had ordained should be deposed too (:) Skylitzes 401.79-80
  • Nurtured a very keen desire to be head of the Church δριμύτατον τρέφων ἔρωτα τοῦ προστῆναι τῆς ἐκκλησίας Zonaras 17.15.24
  • Because he nurtured a very keen desire to be head of the Church, he befriended some of the chief priests (:) ἐνίους τῶν ἀρχιερέων προσηταιρίσατο Zonaras 17.15.24
  • Anonymi 6016 professed to him that they would depose Alexios 11, on the grounds that he had not been appointed by a common vote, but by imperial authority (:) οὐ ψήφῷ κοινῇ προχειρισθέντα, ἀλλ ᾿ ἐξουσίᾳ βασιλικῇ Zonaras 17.15.25
  • His desire (to become head of the Church) remained unfulfilled ἔμεινεν ἀτελεστος ἡ τοῦ ὀρφανοτρόφου ἔφεσις Zonaras 17.15.27
  • Since Anonymi 6017 were provoked by the words of Alexios 11 to rebel against Anonymi 6016 for denouncing Alexios 11, the desire of Ioannes 68 remained unfulfilled (:) Zonaras 17.15.27