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Cyril Lucaris

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'''Cyrillos Lukaris''' or '''Cyril Lucaris''' or '''Cyril Lucar''' ([[November 13]], [[1572]] - [[June 27]], [[1638]]) was a Greek prelate and theologian and a native of [[Crete]]. He later became the Patriarch of Alexandria as '''Cyril III''' and [[Patriarch of Constantinople]] as '''Cyril I'''. He was the first great name in the Orthodox Church since the [[fall of Constantinople]] in [[1453]], and dominated its history in the 17th century.
Patriarch Cyril was born Konstantinos Loukaris in [[Heraklion]], [[Crete]] in [[1572]]. In his youth, he travelled throughout Europe, studying at Venice, Padua and Geneva where he came under the influence of the reformed faith of John Calvin. He was ordained a deacon in [[1583]], a little later priest and, in [[1601]], was elected [[Patriarch of Alexandria ]] at age 29, succeeding his uncle [[Meletius I of Constantinople|Meletius Pegas]]. In [[1612]], he served as caretaker [[Patriarch of Constantinople]] and, on [[November 4]], [[1620]], was elected to the post.
Due to Turkish oppression combined with the proselytism of the Orthodox faithful by Jesuit missionaries, there was a shortage of schools which taught the Orthodox faith and [[Greek language]]. Catholic schools were set up and Catholic churches built next to Orthodox ones; Orthodox priests were in short demand. Lucaris fought the influence of Roman Catholicism among his flock. He had a printing press established in Constantinople to publish books and enlighten the believers and also had the Bible translated into modern Greek by Maximus Kallipolitis.
[[Category:1572 births]]
[[Category:Executed people]]
[[Category:Patriarchs of Alexandria]]

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