Saint Metrophanes
Encyclopedia
Saint Metrophanes was the bishop
of Byzantium
from 306 to 314. He may have retired from his episcopacy and died as late as 326.
There is a tradition that, before his death, the Emperor Constantine I
bestowed upon him the honorary title of Patriarch
; however, Byzantium did not become the capital of the Empire until 330 (when it was renamed New Rome
or Constantinople
), and the see
was not elevated to a patriarchate until 451.
Metrophanes I could not partake in the first Ecumenical Council, which was held at Nicaea, due to age and ill health (he was already bedridden). He sent instead Alexander
, the first among his presbyters, an honest man, whom he destined as his successor. For it is said that, when the Council
had ended and the king
with the god-bearing fathers returned, he was told by God that Alexander, and after him Paul
, pleased God, and are good for this position.
Metrophanes has been canonized a saint
, and is revered in both the Eastern Orthodox Church
and the Roman Catholic Church
. His feast day is June 4.
His predecessor as Bishop of Byzantium was Probus, son of Dometius and Metrophanes may have been the son of Probus.
Bishop
A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight. Within the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox Churches, in the Assyrian Church of the East, in the Independent Catholic Churches, and in the...
of Byzantium
Byzantium
Byzantium was an ancient Greek city, founded by Greek colonists from Megara in 667 BC and named after their king Byzas . The name Byzantium is a Latinization of the original name Byzantion...
from 306 to 314. He may have retired from his episcopacy and died as late as 326.
There is a tradition that, before his death, the Emperor Constantine I
Constantine I
Constantine the Great , also known as Constantine I or Saint Constantine, was Roman Emperor from 306 to 337. Well known for being the first Roman emperor to convert to Christianity, Constantine and co-Emperor Licinius issued the Edict of Milan in 313, which proclaimed religious tolerance of all...
bestowed upon him the honorary title of Patriarch
Patriarch
Originally a patriarch was a man who exercised autocratic authority as a pater familias over an extended family. The system of such rule of families by senior males is called patriarchy. This is a Greek word, a compound of πατριά , "lineage, descent", esp...
; however, Byzantium did not become the capital of the Empire until 330 (when it was renamed New Rome
New Rome
The term "New Rome" has been used in the following contexts:* "Nova Roma" is traditionally reported to be the Latin name given by emperor Constantine the Great to the new imperial capital he founded in 324 at the city on the European coast of the Bosporus strait, known as Byzantium until then and...
or Constantinople
Constantinople
Constantinople was the capital of the Roman, Eastern Roman, Byzantine, Latin, and Ottoman Empires. Throughout most of the Middle Ages, Constantinople was Europe's largest and wealthiest city.-Names:...
), and the see
Episcopal See
An episcopal see is, in the original sense, the official seat of a bishop. This seat, which is also referred to as the bishop's cathedra, is placed in the bishop's principal church, which is therefore called the bishop's cathedral...
was not elevated to a patriarchate until 451.
Metrophanes I could not partake in the first Ecumenical Council, which was held at Nicaea, due to age and ill health (he was already bedridden). He sent instead Alexander
Alexander of Constantinople
Saint Alexander of Constantinople was bishop of Byzantium and the bishop of Constantinople . Information from the Synaxarion mention that Alexander was originally from Calabria in Italy and his parents were George and Vryaine...
, the first among his presbyters, an honest man, whom he destined as his successor. For it is said that, when the Council
First Council of Nicaea
The First Council of Nicaea was a council of Christian bishops convened in Nicaea in Bithynia by the Roman Emperor Constantine I in AD 325...
had ended and the king
King
- Centers of population :* King, Ontario, CanadaIn USA:* King, Indiana* King, North Carolina* King, Lincoln County, Wisconsin* King, Waupaca County, Wisconsin* King County, Washington- Moving-image works :Television:...
with the god-bearing fathers returned, he was told by God that Alexander, and after him Paul
Paul I of Constantinople
Paul I or Paulus I or Saint Paul the Confessor , sixth bishop of Constantinople, elected AD 336 or 340. His feast day is on June 7.-Biography:...
, pleased God, and are good for this position.
Metrophanes has been canonized a saint
Saint
A saint is a holy person. In various religions, saints are people who are believed to have exceptional holiness.In Christian usage, "saint" refers to any believer who is "in Christ", and in whom Christ dwells, whether in heaven or in earth...
, and is revered in both the Eastern Orthodox Church
Eastern Orthodox Church
The Orthodox Church, officially called the Orthodox Catholic Church and commonly referred to as the Eastern Orthodox Church, is the second largest Christian denomination in the world, with an estimated 300 million adherents mainly in the countries of Belarus, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Georgia, Greece,...
and the Roman Catholic Church
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
. His feast day is June 4.
His predecessor as Bishop of Byzantium was Probus, son of Dometius and Metrophanes may have been the son of Probus.