Память преподобного Феофилакта исповедника, епископа Никомидийского

In those days when the Church was confused by the heresy of iconoclasm in 1773, the pious man Theophylact came from the Eastern countries to Constantinople and became close to the luminary of the church, Saint Tarasius - then still a layman and senator, the chief ruler of secret affairs in the royal chambers. After the death of the iconoclast Tsar Constantine Copronymus in 1774, his son Leo 1775 reigned with his mother Irina; Patriarch Paul, nicknamed the merciful, left his throne of his own free will, and instead of him, Saint Tarasius was elevated to the patriarchate, who convened the Seventh Ecumenical Council and cursed the heresy of iconoclasm in 1776. Then blessed Theophylact and with him Michael of Sinad left the world, accepted monasticism and were sent by His Holiness Tarasius to a monastery built on the shores of the Black Sea: there, laboring in monastic labors, they succeeded in virtues and received boldness to God in their prayers. It was harvest time, and there was intense heat, people were exhausted from great thirst. The saints prayed to God, and the dry copper vessel began to exude water in an amount sufficient for their needs. Thus the Lord does the will of those who fear him and listens to their prayers! This miracle was similar to that ancient miracle that happened in the desert, when God brought water out of a stone for thirsty Israel (Exodus 17:6), and another when for Samson, who was dying of thirst, the dry bones of a donkey’s jaw became a source of living water (Judges 15:19). When the venerable fathers Theophylact and Michael shone like stars with the light of their virtuous lives, His Holiness Patriarch Tarasius found them worthy of the high rank of bishop and, having ordained both, sent Michael to the Synad, and installed Blessed Theophylact as bishop in Nicomedia. What concern for the verbal flock of Christ was shown by Saint Theophylact in Nicomedia, what care for the poor, orphans and widows - this was evidenced by the Divine churches, hospitals, hospice houses he created and the countless alms he performed daily. He himself ministered to the sick, the blind, the lame and the infirm; going around almshouses and city squares with a vessel of warm water, he washed and cleansed the lepers he encountered with his own hands, not shunning anything when serving them. After the departure of His Holiness Tarasius from the world, Nicephorus the Wise took after him the throne of the Church of Constantinople; then the storm of iconoclastic heresy arose again, stirred up by the wicked king Leo the Armenian. His Holiness Patriarch Nicephorus, having convened the elected bishops Emilian of Cyzicus, Euthymius of Sardinia, Joseph of Thessaloniki, Eudoxius of Ammoria, Michael of Sinada and Blessed Theophylact, Bishop of Nicomedia, went with them to the evil king: the holy fathers taught the king a lot from the Divine books, admonishing him not to cause trouble in that Church of Christ heresy, which was cursed by the Seventh Ecumenical Council. But they could not convince the frantic king, filled with snake venom and breathing rage and anger at them. When the holy fathers fell silent, blessed Theophylact said to the king: – I know that by offending God’s patience and neglecting your salvation, you oppose the ancient tradition of the Holy Fathers and confuse the Church; but, like a storm, fierce destruction and unexpected misfortune will suddenly overtake you, and you will not find a deliverer for yourself. Hearing this, the king was even more filled with rage and removed the bishops from himself with dishonor, condemning them to imprisonment in various places: the most holy Patriarch Nikephoros - on the island of Prokonnis 1777, Saint Michael, Bishop of Sinada - in Eudokiada, others - in other places, and Saint Theophylact of Nicomedia - in the seaside city of Strovul, which is in Kiverreots 1778. There, Christ's confessor and great champion of piety, in the oppression and sorrow of many, spent the rest of his life, about thirty years, and reposed in the Lord. King Leo the Armenian died, as predicted by the saints, by an evil and unexpected death: he was beheaded by the swords of his soldiers on the day of the Nativity of Christ, in the church during Matins (820). After him lived and died Michael, called the Tongue-Tie (829), and Michael’s son Theophilus (842), iconoclast kings. When Queen Theodora (842-855) with her son Michael (855-867) (this was the third king with the name Michael) accepted the scepter of the kingdom, Saint Methodius was elevated to the patriarchate (842), and the lawless heresy was destroyed, and Orthodoxy shone, then the honorable body of our venerable father Theophylact was transferred from exile to Nicomedia and was placed in the church he created for the protection of the city of Nicomedia, and in honor and strength to Christ our God. The lamp of light appeared at the end, to Saint Theophylact, you preached the Word, consubstantial with the Father and the Spirit, you understood the Divine Father of the Council, you appeared to the Trinity. As she stands, pray unceasingly for all of us. Iconoclasm in the Greek Empire began under Leo III the Isaurian (717–741) and ended under the Empress Theodora (842). During this time, the reigns were: Constantine V (775 each), Leo IV (780 each), Constantine VI and Irene (802 each), Nikephoros I (811 each), Stavrikiy and Michael I (813 each), Leo V the Armenian (820 each), Michael II (821 each), Theophilus (840 each), Theodora and Michael III (by 867). The Patriarchal throne of Constantinople under these emperors was occupied by: Anastasius the iconoclast (753), Constantine II the iconoclast (766), Nikitas the iconoclast (780), St. Paul, commemorated August 1 (784), St. Tarasius, commemorated on February 25, with him the VII Ecumenical Council of 787 (806), St. Nikephoros (815), Theodore the Iconoclast (821), Anthony the Iconoclast (832), John VII the Iconoclast (842) and St. Methodius (846). The nickname Copronymus is derived from the Greek “kopros” - manure. Reigned from 775–780. – Leo IV Khozar, although he was an adherent of iconoclasm, was more lenient towards his opponents: he allowed the monks who fled under his father, the intercessors of icon veneration, to return and even allowed them to occupy episcopal sees; Thus, the secret adherent of icon veneration, Pavel of Cyprus, was elevated to the patriarchal throne. The icons even ended up in the palace in the rooms of Empress Irina, who secretly supported the icon worshipers from her husband. When this was discovered, Leo removed Irina from the palace, but soon died. This council took place in 787. Having anathematized the iconoclasts, the council established icon veneration in the sense that icons should not be given worship befitting only God, but they should be honored in the same way as the holy life-giving cross (the veneration of which the iconoclasts did not reject). Prokonnis is an island in Prokonnida (now the Sea of ​​Marmara) northwest of Cyzicus; was famous for its marble breaking. Kiverreots or Caries - the southwestern region of Asia Minor. You might be interested in: