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Saint Germanus of Constantinople
Image: Tzortzis Phouka · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons

Saint Germanus of Constantinople

Patriarch of Constantinople who defended holy images and left office in 730

Rank
Saint
Kind
Bishop
Life
634 – 733
Era
8th century
Feast
12 May
Countries
Türkiye
Türkiye

Life story

The sources place Germanus's birth near the end of the reign of Heraclius (610 to 641), with one giving 634, and his death in 733 or 740. His father was a patrician named Justinian who was killed under a later regime. Germanus became a cleric of the cathedral at Constantinople and then bishop of Cyzicus. In 715 he was elected patriarch of Constantinople.

At first he lived through a confused doctrinal period. The Catholic Encyclopedia reports that at a synod of 712 under Philippicus, who favoured Monothelitism, he yielded to imperial pressure as most Greek bishops did, and then affirmed the two wills of Christ again when the emperor changed. A synod around 715 or 716 reaffirmed that teaching, and he also tried, without success, to bring the Armenian Christians back into communion.

Leo III became emperor in 716, and in 726 he issued an edict treating the veneration of images as idolatry. Germanus opposed it, wrote letters defending the veneration of images, and in 729 Pope Gregory II wrote praising his zeal. In 730 he refused to sign the imperial decree against images; sources differ on whether he resigned or was deposed. Anastasius took his place and he retired to his family home. The Second Council of Nicaea in 787 praised him; he is venerated as a saint in the Catholic and Orthodox churches, with a feast on 12 May.

Works and witness

  • Patriarch of Constantinople from 715 to 730
  • Reaffirmed the doctrine of two wills in Christ after the Philippicus years
  • Defended the veneration of images against Leo III's edict
  • Refused to sign the anti-image decree and left office in 730
  • Praised by the Second Council of Nicaea in 787

Saints from the same country

Saint Paul, Saint Luke, Saint George, Saint Nicholas

References

  • Catholic Encyclopedia (New Advent): 'St. Germanus I'
  • Britannica, 'Saint Germanus I' (via search summary; page not fully read)
  • Wikipedia article on Germanus I of Constantinople (read in full; election 11 August 715, 787 council)

Written by Anawim from documented history. Some details about ancient saints rest on tradition and are marked as such.