Sainted Nicholas the Mystic

Commemorated on May 16

Sainted Nicholas the Mystic was Patriarch of Constantinople. His title of "Mystic" ("mystikos" – an old rank of "privy counsellor") indicates that he earlier served at the imperial court. He was elevated onto the patriarchal throne in the year 895. In 905, because of his excommunication from the Church of the emperor Leo I – who had unlawfully entered into a fourth marriage, he was deposed from his cathedra-seat and sent to prison. In the year 911, after the death of Leo I, he was again raised onto the cathedra as patriarch and guided the Church until his death, which followed in about the year 925.