The Monk Theophanes the Confessor
Commemorated on March 12
The Monk
Theophanes the Confessor was born at Constantinople into a pious and
reknown family. the father of Theophanes was a kinsman of the Byzantine emperor
Leo the Isaurian (717-741). Three years after Theophanes was born, his father
died, leaving his family under the care of the emperor himself. Theophanes grew
up at the court and became a dignitary under the emperor Leo the Khozar
(775-780). His position obliged him to enter into marriage. With the consent of
his bride, Theophanes preserved his chastity, since in his soul matured the
desire to assume the monastic form. Visiting upon a time with his spouse at
monasteries in the Sygreian district (Asia Minor), Theophanes met the
perspicacious elder Gregory Stratitios, who predicted to Theophanes' wife, that
her husband would merit the crown of martyrdom. Awhile later the spouse of
Theophanes was tonsured a nun in one of the monasteries in Bithynia, and
Theophanes accepted monastic tonsure under the monastic elder Gregory. With the
blessing of the elder, Theophanes built a monastery on the Island of Kalon in
the Sea of Marmara and secluded himself in his cell, being occupied with the
transcription of books. And in this occupation Theophanes attained an high
degree of mastery. Later on the Monk Theophanes founded yet another monastery
in the Sygreian district, at a place called the "Big Settlement", and
became its hegumen. The monk himself took part in all the monastic tasks and
for everyone he gave example by his love for work and effort. He was granted by
the Lord the gift of wonderworking: he healed the sick and cast out devils. In
the year 787 at Nicea was convened the Seventh OEcumenical Council, which
condemned the heresy of the Iconoclasts. The Monk Theophanes was also invited
to the Council. He arrived dressed in his patch-tattered attire, but he shone
forth by his God-inspired wisdom in affirming the dogmas of the true Orthodoxy.
At age 50 the Monk
Theophanes fell grievously ill and right up to his very end he suffered
terribly. Situated on his sick-bed, the monk toiled incessantly: he wrote his
work, "The Chronographia", – an history of the Christian Church
covering the years 285-813. This work even up into the present has remained an
invaluable source in the history of the Church.
During the reign of
the emperor Leo the Armenian (813-820), when the saint was already well up into
age, the Iconoclast heresy made a comeback. They demanded of Saint Theophanes
that he accept the heresy, but he firmly refused and was locked up in prison.
His "Big Settlement" monastery was put to the torch. In prison for 23
days, the holy confessor died (+ 818). After the death of the impious emperor
Leo the Armenian, the "Big Settlement" monastery was restored and the
relics of the holy confessor were transferred there.
© 1996-2001 by translator Fr. S. Janos.