Above: St. Germanus I of Constantinople
Image in the Public Domain
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SAINT GERMANUS I OF CONSTANTINOPLE (CIRCA 640-MAY 12, 733/740)
Patriarch of Constantinople
Byzantine Imperial politics affected the life of St. Germanus I, mostly negatively. He, born at Constantinople circa 640, was a son of Senator Justinian, whom Emperor Constantine IV Pogonatus (reigned 668-685) ordered executed. The cruel emperor also ordered the emasculation of St. Germanus. Our saint went on to become a priest then the Bishop of Cyzicus. As the Bishop of Cyzicus he attended the Synod of Constantinople (712), which decreed Monothelitism, the heresy that Christ, despite having two natures (human and divine) yet just one will. St. Germanus criticized that heresy. Our saint, the Patriarch of Constantinople from 715 to 730, also opposed iconoclasm. This caused him to lose favor with Emperor Leo III the Isaurian (reigned 717-741), who forced him out of office in 730 and into exile at a monastery at Platonium then appointed an obedient patriarch. St. Germanus died in the monastery between 733 and 740.
St. Germanus wrote histories, homilies, and hymns. Some hymns have survived.
So have varieties of iconoclasm, unfortunately.
KENNETH RANDOLPH TAYLOR
OCTOBER 14, 2017 COMMON ERA
THE FEAST OF SAINTS CALLIXTUS I, ANTERUS, AND PONTIAN, BISHOPS OF ROME; AND SAINT HIPPOLYTUS, ANTIPOPE
THE FEAST OF SAMUEL ISAAC JOSEPH SCHERESCHEWSKY, EPISCOPAL BISHOP OF SHANGHAI
THE FEAST OF THOMAS HANSEN KINGO, DANISH LUTHERAN BISHOP, HYMN WRITER, AND “POET OF EASTERTIDE”
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Almighty God, your Holy Spirit gives to one the word of knowledge,
and to another the insight of wisdom,
and to another the steadfastness of faith.
We praise you for the gifts of grace imparted to your servant Saint Germanus I of Constantinople,
and we pray that, by his teaching we may be led to a fuller knowledge of the truth
we have seen in your Son Jesus, our Savior and Lord, who lives and reigns
with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
Isaiah 28:5-6 or Hosea 14:5-8 or 2 Chronicles 20:20-21
Psalm 96
Philippians 4:8-9 or Ephesians 5:18b-20
Matthew 13:44-52
–Adapted from Evangelical Lutheran Worship (2006), page 61
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