This week in Christian history: Largest SBC meeting, AME Church founder ordained

By Michael Gryboski, Mainline Church Editor Sunday, June 11, 2023

Saint Methodius I dies – June 14, 847

Saint Methodius I (circa 790-847), also spelled Methodios, was a monk who served as patriarch of Constantinople from 843 until his death. | Screengrab: faith.nd.edu

This week marks the anniversary of when St. Methodius I, an influential Eastern Church monk who served as patriarch of Constantinople for four years, died.

Born to a wealthy family in Sicily, Methodius would become a monk and be involved in the Iconoclast controversy, a debate within the Eastern Church over whether it was acceptable to venerate icons.

Methodius adamantly supported the pro-icon side of the argument, suffering torture and exile by Byzantine Empire officials who believed that venerating icons was a pagan practice.

Eventually, when Empress Theodora came to power, the anti-icon movement was defeated, and Methodius was appointed Patriarch of Constantinople in 843, a position he held until his death.