Jeremias Tranos was born in
Anchialos, from an influential
Greek family. The year of his birth is not known, most probably 1530, but some scholars suggest 1536. He studied with the best Greek teachers of his age, and in his youth he became a
monk. Supported by the rich
Michael Kantakouzenos Şeytanoğlu, he was appointed bishop of
Larissa on about 1568. When Michael Kantakouzenos Şeytanoğlu obtained the deposition of Patriarch
Metrophanes III of Constantinople, Jeremias, supported by Michael Kantakouzenos Şeytanoğlu, was elected for the first time to the Patriarchate on 5 May 1572. Jeremias II's first concern was the reform of his Church, and he summoned a synod with the aim to root out
simony. He also restored his cathedral, that at the time was the
Pammakaristos Church. During his first reign, Jeremias II also had the first contacts with the
Lutherans which ended in a deadlocked disagreement. On 3 March 1578 his patron, Michael Kantakouzenos Şeytanoğlu was executed, and so Jeremias II's position became weak. On 23 November 1579 Jeremias II was deposed and excommunicated, and Metrophanes III returned on the Patriarchal throne. Metrophanes III died on 9 August 1580, and Jeremias II returned for the second time on the throne, probably on 13 August. From 1580 to 1583 there were contacts between Jeremias II and envoys of the
Pope in regard to the introduction in Greece of the
Gregorian calendar:
Rome was almost sure about a positive solution, but on the contrary the final position of Jeremias II was negative. In 1584 Jeremias II offered as a gift to
Pope Gregory XIII two pieces of relics from the bodies of Saint
John Chrysostom and
Saint Andrew of Crete. In the winter between 1583 and 1584 Jeremias II was subject of a conspiracy of some Greek bishops against him, led by
Pachomius of
Kaisaria and
Theoleptus of
Philippoupolis, that accused him to have supported a Greek uprising against the
Ottoman Empire, to have
baptised a
muslim and to be in correspondence with the
papacy. Jeremias II was arrested and beaten, and three trials followed: the first charge resulted false, but the last resulted in his deposition on 22 February 1584 and in his exile in
Rhodes. Thanks to the intercession of the French ambassador, in 1586 Jeremias II obtained freedom from his exile in Rhodes and started his travel through the
Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth (which included also
Ukraine) and the
Tsardom of Russia to raise funds. During his travels, he arrived in
Moscow on 11 July 1588, and after negotiations with
Boris Godunov (the
Regent for Tsar
Feodor I of Russia) on 26 January 1589
Patriarch Job of Moscow was enthroned as the first
Patriarch of Moscow and all Rus'. Patriarch Jeremias II recognised the
Russian Orthodox Church. On his way back to Constantinople, Jeremias II deposed the
Metropolitan of Kiev , and in his place appointed and consecrated
Michael Rohoza. In the meantime, after 1584 Jeremias II's deposition of two other patriarchs followed,
Pachomius II and
Theoleptus II, who was deposed in May 1586. The Church was governed by a supporter of Jeremias II,
deacon Nicephorus (died 1596), and for ten days by deacon
Dionysios Skylosophos (later metropolitan of Larissa). In April 1587 Jeremias II was formally re-elected as Patriarch, but due to his absence for his travel the Church went on being governed by the replacement cleric, deacon Nicephorus. On 4 July 1589, the Sultan formally appointed Jeremias II as Patriarch of Constantinople (for the third time). Jeremias II was informed to be again elected patriarch only in 1589 in
Moldova when he was on the way back to Constantinople where he arrived in 1590. On 12 February 1593, a
synod in Constantinople sanctioned the
autocephaly of the Patriarchate of Moscow. The exact date of Jeremias II's death is not known, but it occurred between September and December 1595, in Constantinople. == Greek Augsburg Confession ==