PHOTIUS, flisiff-us (Lat., from (1k. curios) ( c.820-e.:401). Patriarch of one of the greatest theologians and scholars of the Greek Church. He was a member of it rmtrieian family of Constantinople. and during the first period of his life filled various important public offices. In s157 Bardas, minister of the young Emperor. 'Michael III., undertook to remove the Patriarch Ignatius (see IGNATIUS. SAINT) from his posi tion. and Photius, after being hurried through all the clerical offices in a few days, was put in his place. Pope Nicholas I. (q.v.) espoused the cause of Ignatius and excommunicated Photius in S63. The latter maintained his position, sup ported by the Court, and in 867 assembled a council at Constantinople which excommunicated the Pope and his partisans, and withdrew from communion with the See of Rome. (See GREEK CIIURCH.) The same year Basil 1. succeeded Michael as Emperor, Photius was deposed and Ignatius reinstated. Ten years later, after the death of Ignatius, Photius was restored. and the Pope, John VIII., was induced to acquiesce; but in 881 he also excommunicated the Patriarch, whose relations with Rome continued unfriendly the rest of his life. In 886 the Emperor Leo
banished Photius to an Armenian cloister, and he died there about five years later. Photius is revered by the Greek Church, while the Western Church accuses him of craft, violence, and per jury. His theological works include the Am philochia, which not only discusses doctrinal and exegetical questions, but treats also of philosophy, science, medicine, grammar, and history: commentaries ou the Gospels and Epistles; and a treatise in favor of the Greek doctrine of the procession of the Holy Spirit. The Xonmeanon ascribed to Photius Ts of doubtful authorship. Ills chief literary and scholarly work is the .11yriobib/ion, or Bibliotheca, a summary review of nearly 300 works which he had read, most of which are now lost. Ile also wrote a Lexicon, fur use in reading the classic authors and the Scriptures. A number of Pho tius's letters are preserved, as well as sermons of much merit. His works are iu Mig,ne, Patrol° gia araTa, ei.-ev. Consult: Hergenriither, Photius, Patriarch ran Consiantinapcl (3 vols., Regensburg, 1867-69) ; id., Ilonumenta Gra-ca ad Photiunt Spectantia (ib., 1869).