Saint Photius, Patriarch of Constantinople, “the Church’s
far-gleaming beacon,” lived during the ninth century, and came from a
family of zealous Christians. His father Sergius died as a martyr in
defense of holy icons. St Photius received an excellent education and,
since his family was related to the imperial house, he occupied the
position of first state secretary in the Senate. His contemporaries said
of him: “He so distinguished himself with knowledge in almost all the
secular sciences, that it rightfully might be possible to take into
account the glory of his age and compare it with the ancients.”
Michael,
the young successor to the throne, and St Cyril, the future Enlightener
of the Slavs, were taught by him. His deep Christian piety protected St
Photius from being seduced by the charms of court life. With all his
soul, he yearned for monasticism.
In 857 Bardas, who ruled with
Emperor Michael, deposed Patriarch Ignatius (October 23) from the See of
Constantinople. The bishops, knowing the piety and extensive knowledge
of Photius, informed the emperor that he was a man worthy to occupy the
archpastoral throne. St Photius accepted the proposal with humility. He
passed through all the clerical ranks in six days. On the day of the
Nativity of Christ, he was consecrated bishop and elevated to the
patriarchal throne.
Soon, however, discord arose within the
Church, stirred up by the removal of Patriarch Ignatius from office. The
Synod of 861 was called to end the unrest, at which the deposition of
Ignatius and the installation of Photius as patriarch were confirmed.
Pope
Nicholas I, whose envoys were present at this council, hoped that by
recognizing Photius as patriarch he could subordinate him to his power.
When the new patriarch proved unsubmissive, Nicholas anathematized
Photius at a Roman council.
Until the end of his life St Photius
was a firm opponent of papal intrigues and designs upon the Orthodox
Church of the East. In 864, Bulgaria voluntarily converted to
Christianity. The Bulgarian prince Boris was baptized by Patriarch
Photius himself. Later, St Photius sent an archbishop and priests to
baptize the Bulgarian people. In 865, Sts Cyril and Methodius were sent
to preach Christ in the Slavonic language. However, the partisans of the
Pope incited the Bulgarians against the Orthodox missionaries.
The
calamitous situation in Bulgaria developed because an invasion by the
Germans forced them to seek help in the West, and the Bulgarian prince
requested the Pope to send his bishops. When they arrived in Bulgaria,
the papal legates began to substitute Latin teachings and customs in
place of Orthodox belief and practice. St Photius, as a firm defender of
truth and denouncer of falsehood, wrote an encyclical informing the
Eastern bishops of the Pope’s actions, indicating that the departure of
the Roman Church from Orthodoxy was not only in ritual, but also in its
confession of faith. A council was convened, censuring the arrogance of
the West.
In 867, Basil the Macedonian seized the imperial
throne, after murdering the emperor Michael. St Photius denounced the
murderer and would not permit him to partake of the Holy Mysteries of
Christ. Therefore, he was removed from the patriarchal throne and locked
in a monastery under guard, and Patriarch Ignatius was restored to his
position.
The Synod of 869 met to investigate the conduct of St
Photius. This council took place with the participation of papal
legates, who demanded that the participants sign a document (Libellus)
condemning Photius and recognizing the primacy of the Pope. The Eastern
bishops would not agree to this, and argued with the legates. Summoned
to the council, St Photius met all the accusations of the legates with a
dignified silence. Only when the judges asked him whether he wished to
repent did he reply, “Why do you consider yourselves judges?” After long
disputes, the opponents of Photius were victorious. Although their
judgment was baseless, they anathematized Patriarch Photius and the
bishops defending him. The saint was sent to prison for seven years, and
by his own testimony, he thanked the Lord for patiently enduring His
judges.
During this time the Latin clergy were expelled from
Bulgaria, and Patriarch Ignatius sent his bishops there. In 879, two
years after the death of Patriarch Ignatius, another council was
summoned (many consider it the Eighth Ecumenical Council), and again St
Photius was acknowledged as the lawful archpastor of the Church of
Constantinople. Pope John VIII, who knew Photius personally, declared
through his envoys that the former papal decisions about Photius were
annulled. The council acknowledged the unalterable character of the
Nicean-Constantinople Creed, rejecting the Latin distortion
(“filioque”), and acknowledging the independence and equality of both
thrones and both churches (Western and Eastern). The council decided to
abolish Latin usages and rituals in the Bulgarian church introduced by
the Roman clergy, who ended their activities there.
Under Emperor
Basil’s successor, Leo, St Photius again endured false denunciations,
and was accused of speaking against the emperor. Again deposed from his
See in 886, the saint completed the course of his life in 891. He was
buried at the monastery of Eremia.
The Orthodox Church venerates
St Photius as a “pillar and foundation of the Church,” an “inspired
guide of the Orthodox,” and a wise theologian. He left behind several
works, exposing the errors of the Latins, refuting soul-destroying
heresies, explicating Holy Scripture, and exploring many aspects of the
Faith.
Troparion — Tone 4
Follower of the Apostles’ way / And teacher of mankind: /
Intercede, O Photius, with the Lord of all, / To grant peace to the
world / And to our souls great mercy!
Source- Oca.org
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