Blessed Constantine, metropolitan of Kiev (1159)
Commemorated on June 5
In his day there was great disorder among the princes of
Russia and in the Russian Church. One of the rival princes appointed a monk
named Kim as Metropolitan of Kiev without seeking the blessing of the Patriarch
of Constantinople, as was still done at that time. The Patriarch sent
Metropolitan Constantine to investigate, and he deposed Kim and banished the
priests whom Kim had ordained. This led to strife among the people, some of whom
supported Constantine, some Kim. Finally, at the request of the princes, the
Patriarch sent a third Metropolitan, and both Kim and Constantine were removed.
When Constantine died in 1159, his will ordered that he not be buried, but
cast out to be eaten by dogs, since he felt that he was guilty of sowing discord
in the Church. Horrified, but unwilling to go against his last wishes, the
people threw his body outside as he had ordered. During the three days that it
lay exposed, Kiev was wracked with thunderstorms and earth tremors, in which
eight people were killed. Finally the Prince of Kiev ordered that the
Metropolitan's body be buried in the church, and the weather immediately became
calm. (see St Marcellinus, June 7.)