Born
in Sicily in the eighth century, Methodius, well educated and wealthy,
hoped to receive a place in the Court of Constantinople. However,
influenced by a holy monk, he decided to abandon materialism and become a
religious, and built a monastery on the island of Chios.
In
815, during the second outbreak of the iconoclastic persecution, the
movement against the veneration of icons, Methodius was sent to Rome as a
representative of Patriarch Nicephorus, who was exiled by Emperor Leo V
the Armenian for refusing to yield to the imperial decrees on the
destruction of icons. The holy man spoke in favor of the reverence for
holy images, seeking acceptance and approval for the icons, but he
returned to Constantinople unsuccessful.
Methodius returned to
Rome in 821 when a new emperor, Theophilius, sat on the throne, hoping
to convince him to allow the veneration of icons. Instead, he was
scourged and imprisoned for seven years.
In 843 he was
consecrated as Patriarch of Constantinople with the backing of the
Empress Theodora, Theophilius’ widow, and convened a council. Theodora
was an ardent supporter of the veneration of icons and was the reason
icons were restored to Catholic churches.
Methodius died in Constantinople in 847 of dropsy, or what is now called edema.
Monday, June 14, 2021
St. Methodius of Constantinople
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