My beloved spiritual children in Christ Our Only True God and Our Only True Savior,
CHRIST IS IN OUR MIDST! HE WAS, IS, AND EVER SHALL BE. Ο ΧΡΙΣΤΟΣ ΕΝ ΤΩ ΜΕΣΩ ΗΜΩΝ! ΚΑΙ ΗΝ ΚΑΙ ΕΣΤΙ ΚΑΙ ΕΣΤΑΙ.
Apolytikion (Dismissal) Hymn of St. Photius, Patriarch of Constantinople. Fourth Tone
As a teacher to the world, being one with the Apostles, intercede with the Lord of all, O that He may grant the world peace, and to our souls his great mercy.
Kontakion of St. Photios, Patriarch of Constantinople. Plagal of the Fourth Tone
Far-reaching beacon of the Church and God, inspired Guide of the Orthodox, you are now crowned with the flowers of song. You are the divine words of the Spirit's harp, the strong adversary of heresy and to whom we cry, "Hail all-honorable Photius."
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SAINT PHOTIUS THE GREAT, THE PATRIARCH OF CONSTANTINOPLE, CONFESSOR OF THE FAITH AND EQUAL TO THE APOSTLES
As for the thrice-blessed Photius, the great and most resplendent Father and teacher of the Church, the Confessor of the Faith and Equal to the Apostles, he lived during the years of the emperors Michael (the son of Theophilus), Basil the Macedonian, and Leo his son. He was the son of pious parents, Sergius and Irene, who suffered for the Faith under the iconoclast emperor Theophilus; he was also a nephew of Saint Tarasius, Patriarch of Constantinople (see Feb. 25). He was born in Constantinople, where he excelled in the foremost imperial ministries, while ever practicing a virtuous and godly life. 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 Saint Cyril, the future Enlightener of the Slavs, were taught by him. His deep Christian piety protected Saint Photius from being seduced by the charms of court life. With all his soul, he yearned for monasticism.
In 857 AD Bardas, who ruled after Emperor Michael, deposed Patiarch 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. Saint 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.
The many struggles that this thrice-blessed one undertook for the Orthodox Faith against the Manichaeans, the Iconoclasts, and other heretics, and the attacks and assaults that he endured from Nicholas I, the haughty and ambitious Pope of Rome, and the great persecutions and distresses he suffered, are beyond number. Contending against the Latin (Roman Catholic) heresy of the Filiogue, that is, the doctrine that the Holy Spirit proceeds from both the Father and the Son, he demonstrated clearly his mystagogy on the Holy Spirit how the Filioque destroys the unity and quality of the Holy Trinity. He has left us many theological writings, panegyric homilies, and epistles, including one to Boris, the Sovereign of Bulgaria, in which he set forth for him the history and teachings of the Seven Ecumenical Councils. Having tended the Church of Christ in holiness and in an evangelical manner, and with fervent zeal having rooted out all the tares of every alien teaching, he departed to the Lord in the Monastery of the Armenians on February 6, 891 AD.
HISTORICAL ACCOUNTS
Soon after he was elevated to the patriarchal throne of Constantinople discord arose within the Church, stirred up by the removal of Patriarch Ignatius from office. The Synod of 861 AD was called to end the unrest, at which the deposition of Ignatius and the installation of Photius as patriarch were confirmed.
Pople 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, Pope Nicholas anathematized Photius at a Roman council.
Until the end of his life Saint Photius was a firm opponent of papal intrigues and designs upon the Orthodox Church of the East. In 864 AD, Bulgaria voluntarily converted to Christianity. The Bulgarian prince Boris was baptized by Patriarch Photius himself. Later, Saint Photius sent an archbishop and priests to baptize the Bulgarian people. In 865 AD, Saints 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 it substitute Latin teachings and customs in place of Orthodox belief and practice. Saint Photius, as a firm defender of truth and denouncer of falsehood, wrote an encyclical informing the Easters 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 Latin West.
In 867 AD, Basil the Macedonian seized the imperial throne, after murdering the emperor Michael. Saint 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 AD met to investigate the conduct of Saint 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, Saint 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 Saint 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 (Roman Catholic) clergy were expelled from Bulgaria, and Patriarch Ignatius sent his bishops there. In 879 AD, two years after the death of Patriarch Ignatius, another council was summoned (many consider it the Eighth Ecumenical Council), and again Saint Photius was acknowledged as the lawful archpastor of the Church of Constantinople.
Pope John VIII, who knew St. Photius personally, declared through his envoys that the former papal decisions about St. Photius were annulled. The council acknowledged the unalterable character of the Nicean-Constantinopolitan Creed, rejecting the Latin distortion and heresy ("Filioque"), and acknowledging the independence and equality of both thrones and churches (Western and Eastern). The Council decided to abolish Latin usages and rituals in the Bulgarian Church introduced by the Roman Catholic clergy, who ended their activities there.
Under Emperor Basil's successor, Leo, Saint Photius again endured false denunciations, and was accused of speaking against the emperor. Again deposed from his See in 886 AD, the Saint completed the course of his life in 891 AD. He was buried at the monastery of Eremia.
The Orthodox Church venerates Saint 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 heresies of the Latins, refuting soul-destroying heresies, explicating Holy Scripture, and exploring many aspects of the Faith.
[Sources: Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America and Orthodox Church in America)
SAINT BUCOLUS THE BISHOP OF SMYRNA
Saint Bucolus, Bishop of Smyrna, was a disciple of the Holy Apostle and Evangelist John the Theologian, and became the first Bishop of Smyrna (Asia Minor).
By the grace of God, Saint Bucolus converted many of the pagans to Christ and baptized them. As a wise and experienced guide, he defended his flock from the darkness of heresy.
He died in peace between the years 100-105 AD. He entrusted his flock to Saint Polycarp (Feb. 23), one of the Apostolic Fathers, who was also a disciple of the Holy Apostle John the Theologian. At the grave of Saint Bucolus grew a myrtle tree, which healed the sick.
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MY BLESSING TO ALL OF YOU
The Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God and Father, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen.
With sincere agape in His Holy Diakonia,
The sinner and unworthy servant of God
+Father George