St. Methodius I of Constantinople
Feast Day: June 14
This patriarch of Constantinople, born in Sicily, is venerated in the East for opposing Iconoclasm, a movement to destroy all holy images and the veneration of saints. Methodius went to Constantinople, now Istanbul, to obtain a post at court, but instead entered one monastery, built another on the Aegean island of Chios, and was called to Constantinople by the patriarch. Because he fought Iconoclasm, he was imprisoned twice, once for seven years and once with a broken jaw. Finally, in 842, Empress Theodora banned the Iconoclasts and installed Methodius as patriarch. During his short reign, Methodius convened a synod affirming the lawfulness of venerating religious images.
