Michael II the Younger

Michael II the Younger (; ), also called Michael the Less, was a 13th-century claimant to the office of Syriac Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch, serving as an antipatriarch during a period of schism within the Syriac Orthodox Church.

He was called "Zaʿura" by Barhebraeus, which means "the younger", "junior", "the little", or "the less", to distinguish him from his uncle, Michael the Great.

Biography Born Joshua Sephtono , he hailed from a prominent ecclesiastical family in Melitene, that of Michael the Syrian. His father was Abraham and his uncle was Michael the Syrian (called Rabo or "the Elder" to distinguish the two). Another uncle, Saliba, served as Archbishop of Mardin (1177) and later of Jerusalem (1184), ordained by Michael the Syrian. Joshua had a brother, Jacob , who changed his name upon being elevated to his position, adopting the name Gregory at his ordination as maphrian.

Joshua became a monk at Monastery of Mar Barsauma. Following the death of Patriarch Michael the Syrian in 1199, he attempted to become the patriarch of Antioch, prompting him to leave the monastery. Thus he left the monastery, but the abbot pursued him in an effort to bring him back. Joshua, in response, had him arrested by the governor of Gargar, only released on the condition that he would not hinder Michael's pursuit of the office.

Episcopate Joshua was ordained by his brother, Maphrian Jacob, at Mor Hananyo Monastery in 1200, adopting the name Michael in honor of his uncle. As it was commonly done at the time, he appointed three bishops loyal to him in order to consolidate his support immediately after his ordination, but the people of Mardin bribed the governor to have both him and his brother expelled, to which he relocated to Melitene.thumb The ecclesiastical province of the Patriarch of Antioch is included in his title as "Patriarch of Antioch and the entire East"; this comprises virtually all of Asia, with a specific emphasis on the Middle East. Arabia is included, but Egypt, Armenia, and Western Anatolia are notThus, Michael became the antipatriarch, rival to Athanasius VIII bar Salibi, the patriarch of Antioch officially recognized by the Syriac Orthodox Church throughout the latter's entire pontificate. The anonymous author of the Chronicle of 1234 regarded Michael as the legitimate patriarch and labeled Athanasius as the antipatriarch. Athanasius was recognized in the western and northern provinces of the ecclesiastical territory of Antioch (Syria, Sultanate of Rum, and Tur Abdin) while Michael was recognized in the eastern and southern provinces (Tagrit, Mosul, Nisibis, and Mardin). Both clergymen wielded their financial and influential resources to assert their legitimacy; Athanasius accused Michael of bribing Sultan Rukn al-Din of Melitene with six thousand dinars, despite the prohibition against monks owning any money.

Athanasius died in 1207, and John XII of Antioch was ordained as his successor; Michael, however continued to contest John, and the schism persisted. According to Barhebraeus, Michael never gained significant popular support even within his own family, with the notable exception of his brother, Maphrian Jacob, who remained loyal to him.

Michael died 40 days after his brother in 1215, leading to the eventual resolution of the schism.

Works Despite the trouble he caused, Michael was a learned and chaste man who composed several books:

On the Annunciation in 21 chapters On Christmas in 125 chapters; fragments of this exist in Tur Abdin at the Sharfeh Monastery On Christ's Entry into Jerusalem in 25 chapters On Lent and Maundy Thursday in 16 chapters On Good Friday in 15 chapters, which includes a homily on the Washing of Feet; a copy is in Paris, France

He also composed a long liturgy that starts with the phrase "O Lord, Who art the master of all and the first righteous who has no equal".