Dictionary of Christian Biography and Literature to the End of the Sixth Century/Petrus, surnamed Fullo
Petrus (10) (surnamed Fullo, "the Fuller"), intruding patriarch
of Antioch, 471–488, a Monophysite, took his surname from his former trade as
a fuller of cloth. Tillemont shews considerable skill in harmonizing various
statements of his earlier life (Empereurs, t. vi. p. 404). He considers
that Peter was originally a member of the convent of the Acoimetae, which he
places in Bithynia on the Asiatic side of the Bosphorus, and being expelled
thence for dissolute life and heretical doctrine, passed over to Constantinople,
where he became a parasite to persons of distinction, by whom he was introduced
to Zeno, the future emperor, the son-in-law of Leo, whose favour he secured,
obtaining through him the chief place in the church of St. Bassa, at Chalcedon.
Here his true character having speedily become known, he fled to Zeno, who was
then setting out for Antioch as commander of the East. Arriving at Antioch
a.d.
463, Peter's unbridled ambition soared to the patriarchal throne, then filled
by Martyrius, and having gained the ear of the rabble, be adroitly availed himself
of the powerful Apollinarian element among the citizens and the considerable
number who favoured Eutychian doctrines, to excite suspicions against Martyrius
as a concealed Nestorian, and thus caused his tumultuous expulsion and his own
Election to the throne. This was in 469 or 470 (Theod. Lect. p. 554; Labbe,
iv. 1009, 1082). When established as patriarch, Peter at once declared himself
openly against the council of Chalcedon, and added to the Trisagion the words
"Who wast crucified for us," which he imposed as a test upon all in his patriarchate,
anathematizing those who declined to accept it. According to the Synodicon,
he summoned a council at Antioch to give synodical authority to this novel clause
(Labbe, iv. 1009). The deposed Martyrius went to Constantinople to complain
to the emperor Leo, by whom, through the influence of the patriarch Gennadius,
he was courteously received; a council of bishops reported in his favour, and
his restoration was decreed (Theod. Lect. p. 554; Liberat. c. 18, p.
122). But notwithstanding the imperial authority, Peter's personal influence,
supported by the favour of Zeno, was so great in Antioch that Martyrius's position
was rendered intolerable and, wearied by violence and contumely, he soon left
Antioch, abandoning his throne again to the intruder. Leo was naturally indignant
at this audacious disregard of his commands, of which he was apprised by Gennadius,
and he despatched an imperial decree for the deposition of Peter and his banishment
to the Oasis (Labbe, iv. 1082). According to Theodorus Lector, Peter fled, and
Julian was unanimously elected bishop in his room,
a.d. 471, holding the see until
Peter's third restoration by Basiliscus in 475 (Theophan. p. 99; Theod. Lect.
p. 533). During the interval Peter dwelt at Constantinople, in retirement in
the monastery of the Acoimetae, his residence there being connived at on a pledge
that he would not create further disturbances (Labbe, iv. 1009, 1082; Theophan.
p. 104). During the short reign of the usurper Basiliscus (Oct. 475–June 477)
the fortunes of Peter revived. Under the influence of his wife Basiliscus declared
for the Monophysites, recalled Timothy Aelurus, patriarch of Alexandria, from
exile, and by his persuasion issued an encyclical letter to the bishops calling
them to anathematize the decrees of Chalcedon (Evagr. H. E. iii. 4).
Peter gladly complied,
and was rewarded by a third restoration to the see of Antioch,
a.d. 476 (ib. 5). Julian
was deposed, dying not long after. Peter on his restoration enforced the addition
to the Trisagion, and behaved with great violence to the orthodox party, crushing
all opposition by an appeal to the mob, whom he had secured by his unworthy
arts, and who confirmed the patriarch's anathemas by plunder and bloodshed.
Once established on the patriarchal throne, he was not slow to stretch its privileges
to the widest extent, ordaining bishops and metropolitans for all Syria. The
fall of Basiliscus,
a.d. 477, involved
the ruin of all who had supported him and been promoted by him. Peter was one
of the first to fall. In 485 for the last time Peter was replaced on his throne
by Zeno on his signing the Henoticon (Theophan. p. 115; Theod. Lect. p. 569;
Labbe, iv. 1207; Evagr. H. E. iii. 16). He at once resumed his career
of violence, expelling orthodox bishops who refused to sign the Henoticon and
performing uncanonical ordinations, especially that of the notorious Xenaias
(Philoxenus) to the see of Hierapolis (Theophan. p. 115). He was condemned and
anathematized by a synod of 42 Western bishops at Rome
a.d. 485, and separated from Christian
communion (Labbe, iv. 1123–1127). He retained, however, the patriarchate at
Antioch till his death, in 488, or according to Theophanes, 490 or 491. One
of his latest acts was the unsuccessful revival of the claim of the see of Antioch
to the obedience of Cyprus as part of the patriarchate. After long debate the
council of Ephesus in 431 had declared the church of Cyprus autocephalous. Tillem.
Les Empereurs, t. vi. pp. 404–407; Mém. eccl. t. xvi. passim.;
Clinton, F. R. vol. ii. app. p. 553.
[E.V.]