Manuel, Charitopulus

Manuel, Charitopulus (ὁ Χαριτόπουλος), or SARANTENUS (ὁ Σαραντηνός), or the Philosopher, a Greek ecclesiastic who flourished in the 12th and 13th centuries, acquired a high reputation by his philosophical attainments. He was appointed patriarch of Constantinople on the death of Maximus II, A.D. 1215, and held the patriarchate for five years and seven months. He died about A.D. 1221. Three synodal decrees of a Manuel, patriarch of Constantinople, are given in the Jus Graeco-Romanum of Leunclavius (lib. iii, p. 238, etc.), who assigns them to Charitopulus, and is followed by Cave and Oudin, who have confounded Charitopulus with another Manuel (of Constantinople). Le Quien objects to this judgment of Leunclavius, as not founded on evidence, and, with better reason, adjudges them to Manuel Bryennius. Ephraem of Constantinople celebrates Charitopulus as "an exact observer of the laws and canons" (Georg. Acropolit. Annnal. [c. 19, p. 17, ed. Paris; p. 35, ed. Bonn]; Ephraem. De I'atriarchis [Charitop. vs. 10, 251, ed. Bonn]; Anonymous [supposed by some to be Niceph. Callist.], De Patriarchis Charitopolitanzis Carmen Iambicurm, and Patriarchae Chsaritopoleos, apud Labbe, De Histor. Byzant. Scriptorib. Προτρεπτικόν; Le Quien, Oriens Christianus, i, col. 278; Cave, list. Litt. ad ann. 1240, 2:297 [ed. Oxford, 1740-42); Oudil, Comment de Scriptorib. et Scriptis Eccles. iii, col. 177). — Smith, Dict. of Gr. and Roms. Biog. and Mythol. s.v.