Sainted Germanos, Patriarch of Constantinople
Commemorated on May 12
Sainted Germanos,
Patriarch of Constantinople, was born at Constantinople in the VII Century.
His father, one of the foremost senators in Byzantium, was killed by order of
the emperor Constantine Pogonatos (668-685), and the boy Germanos was
emasculated and given over to church clergy, where he deeply studied Holy
Scripture. For his sanctity of life, Germanos was made bishop in the city of
Kizikum. Saint Germanos rose up steadfastly in defense of the Orthodox faith
against the iconoclast heretics. He was later made patriarch of Constantinople.
Saint Germanos continued to stand up against the iconoclasts and to their
spokesman, the emperor-heretic Leo III the Isaurian (717-741). But the contest
was unequal, and he was forced to put his omophor upon the prestol'
(altar-table) in the altar, and to resign the archpastoral cathedra. Then the
enraged emperor, – having accused the Patriarch the day before of heresy, sent
soldiers, who subjected the saint to beatings and threw him out of the
patriarchal residence. Saint Germanos was Patriarch for 14 years and 5 months.
He settled into a monastery, where he spent the remaining days of his life.
Holy Patriarch Germanos died in the year 740, at age 95, and was buried in the
Khoron monastery in Constantinople. Afterwards his relics were transferred to
France.
At the Seventh
OEcumenical Council (787), the name of Patriarch Germanos was written into the
diptych-list of the saints. Written by him was: "Meditation on church
matters or Commentary on the liturgy"; also a composition, devoted to an
explanation of difficult places of Holy Scripture, and another work concerning
the rewards of the righteous after death. Providing a wealth of historical
accounts is his important work about the various heresies that had arisen since
apostolic times, and also about the church councils taking place during the
reign of the emperor Leo the Iconoclast. There are preserved also three
missives from the Patriarch about the veneration of icons, which were read at
the Seventh OEcumenical Council. His other works present his hymns in praise of
the saints, discourses on the feasts of the Entry into the Temple, the
annunciation and the Uspenie (Repose) of the Most Holy Mother of God, and on the
restoration of the church in honour of the Placing of the Venerable Belt
(Poyas, Zona) of the Most Holy Mother of God.
© 1996-2001 by translator Fr. S. Janos.
