St Tarasius was born into the Byzantine nobility and would eventually be elected to be the Secretary of State for
Constantine IV and his Empress Irene. Because he had led the life of a monk before and during his service for the Emperor, Tarasius was unanimously elected to be the next Patriarch of Constantinople.
Even though this was such a high honor, Tarasius said that he could not accept the position while his community was not in communion with Rome. During the previous Patriarch's reign, Constantinople had broken communion with Rome over the controversy of Icons. The East did not think they should be used for worship services or veneration if they were three dimensional. Slipping into the category of graven images, the East would not allow their use and consequently breaking ties from Rome.
Tarasius would have a council conviened in Constantinople to discuss the issue, but the Iconoclasts would riot, so another council would be called in Nicea the following year. The council would determine that the Church was in favor of images and the Pope approved. Tarasius would go back to Constantinople with the Church be unified again. He would work tirelessly for the Church under the Emperor.
Later, Tarasius would no longer be in the Emperor's favor when he would not grant permission for the Emperor to divorce his wife so he could marry his servant and he would be imprisoned for a brief time. Tarasius would be Patriarch for 21 years and during that time he would visit every hospital and house with ill people in all of Constantinople personally to let them know that no one would be overlooked in the distribution of alms.
On Wednesday, February 25th, we celebrate the feast day of
St Tarasius, Patriarch of Constantinople and unifier of the Church.
