Today our Church honors the memory of our Holy Father Germanos of Constantinople.
Saint Germanos was born in Constantinople in 640 AD. His father was patrician Justinian, who raised him with great reverence.
Famous for the virtue, education, and holiness of his life, he was elected Metropolitan of Cyzicus, at the age of 37. Later, when the patriarchal throne became vacant, with the opinion of Emperor Anastasios, and the vote of the Senate, the clergy, and the people, he was elevated to the ecumenical throne (715 AD).
From this position, he devoted all his spiritual and moral powers, teaching and admonishing with his constant sermons. When the iconoclast emperor Leo III the Isaurian told him to comply with his ungodly decrees, not only he did disobey, but he also incited the people to resist. He was thus forced to resign after handing in his omophorion οn the Holy Table.
Saint Germanos retired to a paternal estate and after a short illness, he died at the age of 100 on May 12, 740 AD. He was buried in the Chora Church (Monastery of Chora) in Constantinople.
Source: Church of Cyprus
