Summary
Charizanis Georgios, The Protostrator Alexios Axouchos, the Sebastokrator Alexios Komnenos and the Monastic Centre of Mount Papikion (2nd half of the 12th Century). Profile Questions and Other Tasks
The protostrator Alexios Axouchos and the sebastokrator Alexios Komnenos, illegitimate son of the emperor Manuel I Komnenos (1143-1180), have something in common with one another: both of them were accused of conspiracy against the emperor and were arrested. The first against Manuel I in 1167 and the second against lsaakios II Angel in 1191. Then they were forced to become monks and to settle in a monastery of the famous monastic centre of Mount Papikion in Thrace. This paper examines the personality, character and activities of these two important Byzantine officers, as well as the reasons why they were arrested for conspiracy. The protostrator Alexios Axouchos, who was born in 1120, was the elder son of the great domesticos John Axouchos, of Persian(= Turkish) origin. At first Alexios enjoyed the favour of the emperor Manuel I, who entrusted him with important and difficult missions. Nevertheless Alexios was accused (a) that he had secret discussions with the Seljuk sultan of Iconion Kili~ Arslan II (1156-1192), (b) that he collaborated against the emperor with Aaron-Isaakios, a magician of Jewish origin, and finally ( c) that he attempted to murder the emperor Manuel I in Sardike (nowadays Sofia) in April 1167. For all these reasons Alexios was arrested for conspiracy. His property was confiscated and he was forced to put on the monastic frock in a monastery on Mount Papikion in Thrace. Similar was also the case of the sebastokrator Alexios Komnenos. Alexios, who was born in 1160/61, was an illegitimate son of the emperor Manuel I. He was accused of conspiracy against his father-inlaw emperor Andronikos I Komnenos (1183-1185), which was revealed in Jime 1185. Consequently Alexios was put into prison, he was blinded and closed in a tower near the entrance of the Euxeinos Pontos (Black sea). He was called back from exile and be retired in his properties at Drama. Later he was accused and arrested for conspiracy against the emperor Isaakios II Angelos in 1191. His property was confiscated, and he became by force a monk at the monastic centre of Mount Papikion. He settled in the same monastery, in which formerly the protostrator Alexios Axouchos had practiced solitary life. To become a monk by force is contrary to the holy canons. Therefore Theodosios, the protos of Papikion, sent a letter to Theodoros Balsamon, patriarch of Antiocheia and famous canonist, in order to ask his advice about this spiritual matter. Theodoros Balsamon in his answer emphasized that to put someone in the monastic habit without former experience was contrary to canon law.
Δεν υπάρχουν σχόλια:
Δημοσίευση σχολίου