Theoleptus

Theoleptus Of Philadelphia ( c.1250, Nicaea—died c. 1326, Philadelphia) Greek Orthodox metropolitan of Philadelphia and theological polemicist and writer on Christian asceticism.

Biography

Almost nothing is known of the early life except for his birth at Nicæa in 1250, he must have been well educated and he was a married deacon in Nicæa before 1275.

He was a fierce opponent of the merger between Orthodox and Catholic church's proposed by Byzantine emperor Michael VIII Palaeologus and Pope Gregory X at the general council of Lyon in 1274. For this he was excommunicated, by John XI Beccus, patriarch of Constantinople, and he retired to Mount Athos.

When emperor Andronicus II (1282–1328) rejected the merger, Theoleptus was appointed archbishop of Philadelphia in 1285. He led the community though the siege of Philadelphia by Muslim Turks.

He died c. 1326. He is considered a Saint in the eastern church and is remembered on 8 July.