On the visit of venerable Anthony of Dyma Lake to Constantinople

The author of this article explores the visit of Venerable Anthony of Dyma Lake, a disciple of Venerable Barlaam of Khutyn, and, subsequently, the founder of the St. Anthony-Dyma Lake Monastery, to the Patriarchate of Constantinople. Tis visit took place between 1238 and 1243. In addition, the historical events encountered by Venerable Anthony during his trip, especially in light of the capture of Constantinople by the Fourth Crusade and the transfer of the center of the Orthodox world to Nicea, are explored. When Patriarch Germanus II died in 1240, and the Nicean Emperor John III Doukas Vatatzes was unable to choose a new Patriarch, the Ecumenical Patriarchate was administered by the Patriarchate’s bureaucracy - the exocatacoeloi (εξωκατάκοιλοι), who held authority over six councils (σεκρέτον) subject to them and administered all of the affairs of the Patriarchate. Te Patriarchate of Constantinople in the absence of a Patriarch became “self-governing” in some sense. Venerable Anthony witnessed these events during his time as an emissary to Byzantium