Nikephoros of Constantinople

Patriarch of Constantinople, confessor.

March 13

St. Nikephoros was Patriarch of Constantinople in the early ninth century, during the second wave of iconoclasm. A learned defender of the veneration of the holy icons, he stood against the emperor Leo the Armenian, and for his faithfulness he was deposed from his throne and driven into exile, where he spent his remaining years in prayer and writing until his repose.

After the final triumph of Orthodoxy his relics were returned in honor to Constantinople, an event the Church remembers with joy. He is commemorated on March 13.

June 2

St. Nikephoros was Patriarch of Constantinople in the ninth century, in the days when the iconoclast heresy rose a second time. A learned man who had served the empire before taking up the monastic life, he shepherded the Church with wisdom and stood immovably for the veneration of the holy icons. For this he was driven from his throne by the emperor and spent his last years in exile, a confessor for the Orthodox faith.

His relics were later returned to Constantinople with honor, and the Church numbers him among the great defenders of the icons. He is commemorated on June 2.

Feast day

On the New Calendar, Nikephoros of Constantinople is commemorated on March 13. Churches on the Old (Julian) Calendar keep the feast on March 26 of the civil calendar.

On the New Calendar, Nikephoros of Constantinople is commemorated on June 2. Churches on the Old (Julian) Calendar keep the feast on June 15 of the civil calendar.

Who celebrates a name day

People with these names keep their name day on this feast:

Nikiforos, Nikiforis, Nicephorus

Also commemorated on March 13

• Publius of Athens

  Hierarch, Πούπλιος

  Hieromartyr Publius, Bishop of Athens.

• Africanus, Publius and Terence

  Martyr, Αφρικανός

  Holy Martyrs Africanus, Publius and Terence of Carthage.

• Christina of Persia

  Holy Woman, Χριστίνα η εν Περσία

  Holy Martyr Christina of Persia, scourged to death for Christ.

• Euphrasia the Venerable

  Holy Woman, Ευφρασία

  Venerable Euphrasia, who reposed in peace.

• Hypomone

  Holy Woman, Υπομονή

  Venerable Hypomone, the former Empress Helen Dragas, mother of the last emperors of Byzantium.

  Name days: Ypomoni, Ipomoni, Hypomone, Ypomeni

• Marios of Sebaste

  Hierarch, Μάριος

  Saint Marios, Bishop of Sebaste.

Icon: public domain image from Wikimedia Commons.