Nicephorus

Nicephorus, b ?, d 1597. Greek envoy of the Patriarch of Constantinople to the sobor called to discuss the Church Union of Berestia. He taught at Padua University and was a preacher in Venice before entering the service of the patriarch as a protosyncellus. In 1595 he conducted a mission in Moldavia. Because of his familiarity with the political situation in the region, Nicephorus was invited by Prince Kostiantyn Vasyl Ostrozky to participate in the sobor and to provide the Orthodox forces with a powerful symbolic ally. He was detained on the way by Polish authorities, but he arrived in time to participate in the October 1596 meeting of anti-union forces, where he spoke out openly against the union. Nicephorus was later detained again and charged with being a Turkish spy. He died in prison.

[This article originally appeared in the Encyclopedia of Ukraine, vol. 3 (1993).]