Sainted Tarasias, Patriarch of Constantinople
Commemorated on February 25
Sainted Tarasias,
Patriarch of Constantinople, came of illustrious lineage. He was born and
raised in Constantinople, where he received a fine education. He was rapidly
promoted at the court of the emperor Constantine VI Porphyrigenitos (780-797)
and Constantine's mother, the holy Empress Irene (797-802; Comm. 7 August), and
the saint reached the rank of senator. During these times the Church was
agitated by the turmoil of the Iconoclast disturbances. The holy Patriarch Paul
(780-784, Comm. 30 August) although not sympathetic in soul with
Iconoclasm, through his weakness of character was not able to decisively
contend with the heresy and he therefore withdrew to a monastery, where he took
the schema. When the holy Empress Irene together with her son the emperor came
to him, Saint Paul declared to them, that the most worthy successor to him
would be Saint Tarasias (who at this time was still a layman). Tarasias for a
long time refused, not considering himself worthy of so very high a dignity,
but he then gave in to the common accord, on the condition, that an OEcumenical
Council be convened for rendering judgement on the Iconoclast heresy.
Proceeding in a short while through all the degrees of clergy dignity, Saint
Tarasias was elevated to the Patriarchal throne in the year 784. In the year
787 in the city of Nicea, with holy Patriarch Tarasias presiding, – the
Seventh OEcumenical Council was convened, at which were present 367 bishops.
The affirmation of holy icons was confirmed at the Council. Those of the bishops,
who repented of Iconoclasm, were again received by the Church.
Saint Tarasias wisely
governed the Church for 22 years. He led a strict ascetic life. He used up all
his money on God-pleasing ends, feeding and giving comfort to the old, to the
impoverished, to widows and orphans, and on Holy Pascha he set out for them the
meal at which he himself served. The holy Patriarch fearlessly denounced the
emperor Constantine Porphyrigenitos when that one slandered his spouse, the
empress Maria – the grand-daughter of Righteous Philaretos the Merciful (+
792, Comm. 1 December), so that he could be rid of Maria to a monastery thus
freeing him to marry his own kins-woman. Saint Tarasias resolutely refused to
dissolve the marriage of the emperor, for which the saint fell into disgrace.
Soon, however, Constantine was deposed by his own mother, the Empress Irene.
Saint Tarasias died in the year 806. Before his death, devils reminded him of
his life from the time of his youth, and they tried to get the saint to admit to
sins that he had not even committed. "I am innocent in that of which ye
speak, – replied the saint, – and ye do falsely slander me, yet mustneeds it
be ye have no power over me". Mourned by the Church, the saint was buried
in a monastery built by him on the Bosphorus. From his grave was worked many a
miracle.
© 1996-2001 by translator Fr. S. Janos.