Icon of St. Photios the Great - 00STPG02

Feast Day/Commemorated: February 6

Early Life and Ascent to the Patriarchate

Saint Photius, Patriarch of Constantinople, born in the ninth century, emerged from a family profoundly dedicated to Christianity; his father, Sergius, died a martyr in defense of holy icons. Photius received an exceptional education, distinguishing himself across nearly all secular sciences, leading contemporaries to compare his intellectual prowess to the ancients. Due to his family's imperial connections, he served as the first state secretary in the Senate, yet his deep Christian piety shielded him from courtly seductions, fostering a strong desire for monasticism. In 857, following Patriarch Ignatius's deposition by Bardas, the ruling co-emperor, bishops recognized Photius's piety and vast knowledge, deeming him worthy of the patriarchal throne. With profound humility, he accepted, rapidly ascending through all clerical ranks within six days to be consecrated bishop and elevated to the patriarchal throne on the Nativity of Christ.

Early Challenges and Conflict with Rome

Soon after his enthronement, discord arose within the Church due to Patriarch Ignatius's removal. The Synod of 861 was convened to restore order, reaffirming Ignatius's deposition and Photius's rightful installation. However, Pope Nicholas I, whose envoys attended this council, aimed to assert papal supremacy over the East. When Patriarch Photius proved unwilling to submit to his authority, Pope Nicholas I retaliated by anathematizing Photius at a Roman council, initiating a long-standing conflict. Until the end of his life, Saint Photius remained a staunch opponent of papal intrigues and attempts to undermine the Orthodox Church of the East.

Missionary Efforts and Doctrinal Defense

Saint Photius was instrumental in the spread of Orthodoxy to the Slavic world. In 864, Bulgaria voluntarily converted to Christianity, with Prince Boris being baptized personally by Patriarch Photius. Subsequently, Photius dispatched an archbishop and priests to evangelize the Bulgarian people. In 865, he sent Saints Cyril and Methodius to preach Christ in the Slavonic language. However, papal partisans stirred up opposition among the Bulgarians against the Orthodox missionaries. A calamitous situation ensued when a German invasion compelled Bulgaria to seek Western aid, prompting Prince Boris to request papal bishops. Upon their arrival, these papal legates began replacing Orthodox teachings and customs with Latin ones. As a resolute defender of truth, Saint Photius wrote an encyclical to Eastern bishops, exposing the Roman Church's deviation not only in ritual but also in its confession of faith, particularly regarding the addition of the Filioque to the Creed. A council was then convened, censuring the growing arrogance of the West.

Deposition, Imprisonment, and Vindication

In 867, the imperial throne was seized by Basil the Macedonian, who murdered Emperor Michael. Saint Photius bravely denounced the regicide, refusing him Holy Communion, which led to his removal from the patriarchal throne and imprisonment in a monastery under guard. Patriarch Ignatius was then restored to his position. The Synod of 869, influenced by papal legates, sought to condemn Photius and affirm papal primacy. Despite demands to sign a document condemning him, Eastern bishops resisted. Summoned to the council, Saint Photius met all accusations with dignified silence, only speaking to question his judges' authority. Though unjustly condemned and anathematized by his opponents, he thanked the Lord for enduring their judgment and was imprisoned for seven years. During this period, Latin clergy were expelled from Bulgaria, and Patriarch Ignatius sent his own bishops there. However, in 879, two years after Ignatius's death, another council (often considered the Eighth Ecumenical Council) formally recognized Saint Photius as the lawful Patriarch of Constantinople. Pope John VIII, who knew Photius personally, annulled previous papal condemnations, and the council affirmed the unalterable nature of the Nicean-Constantinople Creed, explicitly rejecting the Latin Filioque and affirming the independence and equality of the Eastern and Western Churches.

Final Years and Enduring Theological Legacy

Under Emperor Leo, Basil's successor, Saint Photius again faced false accusations of speaking against the emperor. He was once more deposed from his See in 886 and lived the remainder of his life in quietude, reposing in 891 at the monastery of Eremia. The Orthodox Church profoundly venerates Saint Photius as a "pillar and foundation of the Church," an "inspired guide of the Orthodox," and a wise theologian. His extensive literary legacy includes works exposing Latin errors, refuting soul-destroying heresies, explicating Holy Scripture, and exploring numerous facets of the Christian Faith. His life stands as a testament to unwavering Orthodox conviction, intellectual brilliance, and courageous defense of the Church against theological and political pressures.

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