Patriarch Tarasius of Constantinople

From Free net encyclopedia

Tarasius (mid-8th century-February 25 806), also called Saint Tarasius, was Patriarch of Constantinople from 784 until his death in 806. He was also chief secretary of Empress Irene II, who instigated Tarasius' election to the patriarchy, even though he was a layman at the time. Like all educated Byzantines, he was well versed in theology.

[edit]

Seventh Ecumenical Council

As a part of his policy of improving relations with the church in Rome, he persuaded Empress Irene to write to Pope Adrian in Rome, inviting him to send delegates to Constantinople for a new council, to repudiate heresy. The Pope agreed to send delegates, although disapproved of appointing a layman to the patriarchate. The council convened in the Church of the Holy Apostles, on 17 August, 786. Mutinous troops burest into the church and dispersed the delegates. The shaked papal legates at once took ship for Rome. The mutinous troops were moved out of the city, and the legates reassembled at Nicaea in September, 787. The Patriarch served as acting chairman (Christ was considered the true chairman). The council is known as the Second Council of Nicaea. The council condemned iconoclasm and formally approved the veneration of icons.

[edit]

Divorce of Constantine VI

In January, 795, Emperor Constantine VI, divorced his wife, Mary of Amnia. Tarasius reluctantly condoned the divorce. The monks were scandalised. The leaders of the protest, Abbot Plato and his nephew Theodore, were exiled, but the uproar continued. Much of the anger was directed at Tarasius for allowing the subsequent marriage to Theodote to take place. Under severe pressure from Theodore of Studios, he excommunicated the priest who had conducted Constantine's second marriage.

Tarasius also suffered from criticism of his alleged tolerance of simony. When Nicephorus I dethroned Irene as Byzantine emperor, Tarasius crowned Nicephorus as the next emperor.

His feast day is on February 25.

[edit]