SAINT TARASIUS
Patriarch of Constantinople
(750-806)
Tarasius was born at Constantinople in the middle
of the eighth century, of a noble family. His
mother, Eucratia, brought him up in the practice
of the most eminent virtues. By his talents and
virtue he gained the esteem of all, and was
raised to the greatest honors of the empire, made
first a Consul and afterwards first Secretary of
State to the Emperor Constantine IV and the
Empress Irene, his mother. In the midst of the
court and in its highest honors, he led a life like that of a religious.
Tarasius was chosen, by the unanimous consent of
the court, clergy and people to succeed to the
Patriarch of Constantinople. Saint Tarasius
declared that he could not in conscience accept
the government of a see which had been cut off
from the Catholic communion — which had occurred
through the fault of his predecessor, who
afterwards recognized his error in approving a
group of dissidents — except on condition that a
general Council be convoked to settle the dispute
concerning holy images, which was dividing the
Church at that time. This being agreed to, he was
solemnly declared Patriarch, and consecrated soon afterwards, on Christmas Day.
The Council was opened on the 1st of August, 786,
in the Church of the Apostles at Constantinople;
but, being disturbed by the violences of the
Iconoclasts, it adjourned, to meet again the
following year in the Church of Saint Sophia at
Nicea. The Council declared the positive thought
of the Church in relation to the matter under
debate, which was whether or not holy pictures
and images should be allowed a relative honor.
Afterwards synodal letters were sent to all the
churches, and in particular to the Pope, who approved the council.
The life of the holy Patriarch Tarasius was a
model of perfection for his clergy and people.
His table contained barely the necessaries of
life; he allowed himself very little time for
sleep, rising the first and retiring last in his
spiritual family. Reading and prayer filled all his leisure hours.
After the Emperor repudiated his legitimate wife
and, with the collaboration of a servile priest,
married a servant whom he had crowned as Empress
in her place, he used all his efforts to gain the
Patriarch of Constantinople over to his desires.
Saint Tarasius resolutely refused to countenance
the iniquity, even when imprisoned by the
irritated monarch. Soon afterwards, the emperor
lost his empire and his life, having spurned the
reproaches of Saint Tarasius. The holy man gave
up his soul to God in peace after governing his
church for twenty-two years in great purity of
life, on the 25th of February, 806.
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Lord, may everything we do begin with Your
inspiration and continue with Your help,
so that all our prayers and works may begin in You and by You be happily ended.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.
Amen.
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