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Patr. of the Syr. Orth. Church (1199–1215). Michael was called Younger (Zʿuro) by
Michael came from a family of
Michael was a monk in
Michael received his patriarchal ordination at the hand of his brother, the maphrian, in the Monastery of Mar Ḥenanya. It was on that occasion that he changed his name to ‘Michael’ so that something of his uncle’s luck would be bestowed on him (Bar ʿEbroyo, Ecclesiastical History, 611). He quickly ordained three bishops thus creating his own supporters. The inhabitants of Mardin paid a bribe to the governor of the city that he might expel him, together with his brother (Bar ʿEbroyo, Ecclesiastical History, 611). He left the city and after some attempts to find a city to exercise his authority he withdrew to his parents’ house in Melitene. For all the time of his pontificate (as an antipatriarch) Michael was in opposition to Patr. Athanasios IX (1199–1207).
According to the anonymous author of the ‘Chronicle of
1234’ (253, 260), who, however, regarded Athanasios as
illegitimate (‘Chronicle of 1234’, 340/254), by January 1204 (‘Chronicle
of 1234’, 340/253) Athanasios was recognized in Syria, the Sultanate of Rum,
and
After Athanasios’ death in 1207, the new patriarch became Yuḥanon XIV (1208–20), and Michael’s schism continued now against Yuḥanon. According to Bar ʿEbroyo Michael does not seem to have ever gained much popularity among the laity either and was criticised even by the members of his own family.
Michael died in 1215, 40 days after his brother, the maphrian Grigorios I, who had always supported him (Bar ʿEbroyo, Ecclesiastical History, 633).