Execution of Patriarch Cyril of Constantinople
- When
- 1638
- Where
- Bosphorus
- Episodes
- 1
In June 1638, Sultan Murad IV ordered the execution of Ecumenical Patriarch Cyril I of Constantinople. Accused of plotting with Cossacks before the Persian War, Cyril was strangled by Janissaries aboard a ship in the Bosphorus.
Episodes
Background and detail
Accusation of Treason. As Murad IV prepared to depart for the Persian War, Patriarch Cyril I was accused of designing to stir up the Cossacks. The Sultan acted to avoid trouble during his absence, leading to the decision to execute the Patriarch.
Execution Details. On 27 June 1638, Janissaries strangled Cyril I aboard a ship in the Bosphorus. This method of execution was carried out directly on the Sultan's command, resulting in the death of the Ecumenical Patriarch.
People involved
- Cyril I of Constantinople · Ecumenical Patriarch
- Murad IV · Ottoman Sultan
- Janissaries · Executioners
Sources
- Cyril Lucaris Wikipedia, revision of 2026-08-08
- Murad IV Wikipedia, revision of 2026-09-20
Machine-drafted from the cited Wikipedia passages and checked by a reviewing model, not by a human editor. Every passage cites the revision it was written from; dates and places follow those passages.