Saint Callinicus, Patriarch of Constantinople — August 23 / September 5 (Julian Calendar)

On this day, August 23 according to the Julian Calendar (September 5 civil calendar), the Georgian Orthodox Church commemorates Saint Callinicus, Patriarch of Constantinople. Saint Callinicus, Patriarch of Constantinople (693–705), was at first a priest of the Church of the Most Holy Theotokos at Blachernae. In the year 693, after the repose of Patriarch Paul (686–693), he was entrusted with the helm of the Church of Constantinople. At that time the emperor was Justinian II (685–695), notorious for his cruelty. He decided to build a palace near a church dedicated to the Most Holy Theotokos and ordered Callinicus to give his blessing for the demolition of that church. The holy father replied that he prayed only for the building of churches and not for their destruction. When the church was nevertheless torn down, the blessed one cried out with tears: “Glory to Thee, O Lord, Who endurest all things!”

Soon the judgement of God fell upon Justinian: he was cast down from the throne and exiled to Cherson, and Leontius ascended the throne. Ten years later Justinian escaped from confinement, gathered an army, and marched on Constantinople. He promised the Patriarch and the emperor that after entering the city he would harm no one, and swore it upon the Cross, the Gospel, and the Holy Mysteries. But once he had made his way into Constantinople, he began a slaughter of the noble citizens and of the people, and beheaded the emperor. By his order the hierarch Callinicus was seized, his eyes were gouged out, his tongue was cut off, and he was walled up alive in a stone wall in Rome. After forty days the wall collapsed, and the holy father was found still alive but already at the point of death. Four days later he reposed (705). The Apostles Peter and Paul appeared in a dream to John VI, Pope of Rome (701–705), and commanded that Patriarch Callinicus be buried in Rome, in the church of the Apostles.