A Dictionary of Greek and Roman biography and mythology

2. COCCINUS, patriarch of CONSTANTINOPLE, a man of great and deserved renown. He was probably born in the beginning of the 14th century, and early took the monastic habit. After living for a considerable time as a monk in, and afterwards superior of, the convent of St. Laura on Mount Sinai, he was appointed archbishop of Heracleia (before 1354). In 1355 he was employed by the emperor John Cantacuzenus, in bringing about a reconciliation between Michael, the son, and John Palaeologus, the son-in-law of the emperor; and in the same year he was chosen patriarch of Constantinople, in the place of Callistus, who, however, recovered his see after John Palaeologus had taken possession of Constantinople. Callistus, however, died soon afterwards, and now Philotheus was once more placed on the patriarchal chair, which post he occupied with great dignity till 1371 according to Cave, or 1376 according to the Chronologia reformata of J. B. Riccioli quoted by Fabricius.