The latter were successful at persuading the Grand Vizier to depose Cyril I on 12 April 1623 and to appoint in his place the blind and old Gregory IV of Constantinople.
Thus, on 18 June 1623, the Holy Synod deposed Gregory IV and formally elected Anthimus II as Patriarch of Constantinople.
[2] Anthimus II, even if politically supported by the Catholic governments, remained a strong and good Orthodox.
[3] He sent metropolitans to Rhodes, where Lucaris was temporarily exiled, to persuade him to retire to Mount Athos, but without success.
On the contrary, Lucaris, thanks to the Calvinist Dutch ambassador, returned to Constantinople and produced false instruments of credit for 20,000 Livres on the Patriarchate.