Petros III, appointed patriarch of Antioch, reviewed his career to that date

Summary:

Petros, patriarch of Antioch, wrote to the Antiochenes. After warmly greeting them and their clergy, he explained how he chose to be a monk [at a date which can hardly even be guessed], then rose through the hierarchy before being nominated by the emperor as patriarch, approved by his fellows and God, elevated to the see through chrism and the laying on of hands by Michael Keroularios. He was delighted that his elevation was said to be the Antiochenes' own wish. He urged them to be positive that a real Antiochene was becoming their patriarch - the choice of Konstantinos IX, for whom they should give thanks. There is a little more information at the beginning of the synodical letters he sent to the patriarchs of Alexandria and Jerusalem: he was from pious Antiochene families on both sides, educated first in Antioch, where he attracted the attention of the patriarch Ioannes III (before 1021), then sent for secondary education to Constantinople. This education fitted him for a secular career an imperial secretary of Romanos III (before 1034), then as a krites in more than one theme in turn, finally in a position of reponsibility over other kritai. When he was allowed to retire and join the church, he was appointed to care for the Church of the Holy Apostles, then became skeuophylax of Hagia Sophia 
Dates:
1052 
Petros III, patriarch of Antioch (Petros 103)
  • After warmly greeting the Antiochenes and their clergy, he explained how he had chosen to be a monk, then risen through the hierarchy before being nominated by the emperor, approved by his fellows and god, then made patriarch through chrism and the laying on of hands by Michael 11 (:) Petros of Antioch  ep. synod. Antioch (Michel, "Botschaft") 117.5-14
  • He was delighted his elevation was said to be the Antiochenes' own wish; he urged them to be entirely positive that a real Antiochene was becoming their patriarch; this was due to Konstantinos 9, for whom they should give thanks (:) Petros of Antioch  ep. synod. Antioch (Michel, "Botschaft") 117.14-118.3
  • He was born in Antioch, to pious Antiochene families on both sides; received his primary education there, noticed by patriarch Ioannes IV (before 1021), but moved to Constantinople for the enkyklios paideia; he had good teachers and was an advanced pupil, so he prepared himself for a high-flying secular career (:) Petros of Antioch  ep. synod. Jerusalem (Michel) 440.13-16
  • He began as a private secretary to Romanos 3, continued as a thematic krites in several themes in turn, then took up a higher position in which he had authority over the other kritai; having followed all stages of a secular career, he retired from political life and chose, and was permitted, to enter religious life (:) Petros of Antioch  ep. synod. Jerusalem (Michel) 440.16-21
  • In his church career he had responsibility for the Church of the Holy Apostles, then became skeuophylax of Hagia Sophia, before being elevated to the patriarchate of Antioch (:) Petros of Antioch  ep. synod. Jerusalem (Michel) 440.21-26
  • He provided information for Anonymus 968 on his family, his education and his secular and ecclesiastical careers before elevation to the patriarchate [but with less detail than was sent to Anonymus 969] (:) Petros of Antioch  ep. synod. Alexandria (Michel) 432.27-35