Hierarch 8th century

Saint Germanus Patriarch of Constantinople

c. 634 – 740

Also known as Germanus I of Constantinople

Patriarch of Constantinople who withstood the emperor Leo the Isaurian in defense of the holy icons and, rather than betray the faith, laid down his office and ended his days in exile; a confessor of Orthodoxy.

Feast Day

May 12

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Commemorated as

Our Father among the Saints Germanus, Patriarch of Constantinople

Life

Germanus I was Patriarch of Constantinople from 715 to 730 and is remembered chiefly as a defender of the holy icons in the opening years of the iconoclast controversy. When the emperor Leo III the Isaurian moved to ban the veneration of images, Germanus refused to subscribe to the imperial policy and, rather than betray what he held to be the faith, laid down his patriarchal office and ended his days in exile. He is commemorated on May 12 and is honored in the Orthodox tradition as a confessor.

By the account preserved in the synaxarion, Germanus was born at Constantinople in the seventh century to a family of high rank; his father, described as a prominent senator (the patrician Justinian), was put to death by imperial order during the reign of Constantine IV. The young Germanus was castrated and sent to a monastery, where he devoted himself to the study of Holy Scripture. On account of the sanctity of his life he was made bishop of the city of Cyzicus before his elevation to the patriarchal throne.

Germanus became Patriarch of Constantinople on August 11, 715, succeeding John VI. Sources relate that in the course of his patriarchate he upheld the doctrine of the earlier ecumenical councils and rejected Monothelitism in a local synod. His tenure, which lasted some fourteen years, coincided with the rise of imperial opposition to the veneration of icons under Leo III the Isaurian.

Timeline 6 moments Read Hide

c. 634 Born at Constantinople Born into a senatorial family; his father was later executed by imperial order under Constantine IV.
Aug 11, 715 Elected Patriarch of Constantinople Succeeded John VI as patriarch, having previously served as bishop of Cyzicus.
726–729 Iconoclast edicts of Leo III The emperor Leo III the Isaurian moved to ban the veneration of icons; Germanus opposed the policy.
Jan 17, 730 Resignation of the patriarchate Refusing the imperial decree against images, Germanus laid his omophorion on the altar and resigned, going into exile.
740 Repose Died in exile, by tradition at age ninety-five, and was buried in the Chora monastery.
787 Entered in the diptychs of the saints At the Seventh Ecumenical Council his name was numbered among the saints.

Contributions & Legacy

2 contributions Read Hide

Patriarch and Defender of the Icons

Leo III the Isaurian came to the throne and, in the years 726 to 729, acted to suppress the veneration of sacred images. Germanus stood against the iconoclasts and against the emperor's policy, but, as the synaxarion observes, the contest was unequal. In 730 Leo summoned a council before which Germanus refused to acknowledge the imperial decree prohibiting images.

Rather than yield, Germanus laid his omophorion upon the altar table and resigned the archpastoral throne on January 17, 730. According to the tradition, the emperor then sent soldiers who beat the aged patriarch and expelled him from the patriarchal residence. He was succeeded by Anastasius. Germanus withdrew to a monastery, where he remained in exile until his repose.

Repose and Veneration

Germanus died in the year 740, by the tradition at the age of ninety-five, and was buried in the Chora monastery in Constantinople. At the Seventh Ecumenical Council in 787, which restored the veneration of icons, his name was entered into the diptychs of the saints, recognizing him among the confessors who had resisted iconoclasm.

Germanus left a number of writings. These include a commentary on the Divine Liturgy (a 'Meditation on Church Matters'), explanations of difficult passages of Holy Scripture, a treatise on the state of the righteous after death, and an account of the heresies that had arisen since apostolic times together with the church councils of his era. Letters of his on the veneration of icons are also preserved, and he is credited in the tradition with liturgical hymnography.

Works & Further Reading Read Hide

Notable Works

Commentary on the Divine Liturgy — A liturgical commentary, also titled a 'Meditation on Church Matters,' explaining the meaning of the Liturgy.
On the Heresies and Councils — An account of the heresies that had arisen since apostolic times and the church councils of his era.
Letters on the Veneration of Icons — Letters defending the veneration of sacred images during the iconoclast controversy.

Sources: OCA Synaxarion (oca.org), Lives of the Saints