John Scholasticus

John Scholasticus (born c. 503, near Antioch, Syria—died Aug. 31, 577, Constantinople) was the patriarch of Constantinople (as John III), theologian, and ecclesiastical jurist whose systematic classification of the numerous Byzantine legal codes served as the basis for Greek Orthodox Church (canon) law. A lawyer and priest, John served as Antioch’s patriarchal legate at Constantinople until early 565, when the emperor Justinian named him patriarch, having just exiled the orthodox patriarch Eutychius. With the ascendancy...