St. Methodios was born into a wealthy family in Syracuse, Sicily. He arrived in Constantinople as a young man with the goal of getting a position at Court. But a monk convinced him to reconsider, so he went into a monastery. He departed for the island of Chinos, where he established a monastery and a community of monks.
The second wave of the Iconoclast persecution began under the reign of Emperor Leo V. The majority of the monks were ardent supporters of the images, and Methodios stood up for his order while standing out for his opposition to the government. Because of his opposition to the Iconoclast regulations, Patriarch Nicephorus I was removed from office in 815 and exiled; Theodotus I was thereafter installed.
The deposed patriarch reportedly sent Methodios to Rome that year to inform Pope Paschal I of the situation. He continued to reside in Rome until Michael II succeeded Leo V in 820. The pope attempted to encourage Michael to reverse the Government's stance and restore the Patriarch Nicephorus in a letter that Methodios carried with him when he returned to Constantinople in 821, hoping for better things from the new emperor. Michael, however, did nothing but make the persecution more severe. Methodios was cruelly scourged, brought to the island of Antigoni in the Propontis, and imprisoned there for seven years in an abandoned tomb after delivering his letter and urging the emperor to act accordingly.
Michael II lessened the persecution and issued a wide amnesty in 828. Profiting from this, Methodios was able to escape his cell and return to Constantinople, nearly exhausted from his hardships. He continued to defend the holy images with the same fervor as before since his spirit was intact.
Theophilus, the son of Michael II who succeeded him, led the final and utmost persecution of those who worshiped images. Methodios once again resisted the emperor in front of him before being scourged and imprisoned beneath the palace. But that same evening, with the assistance of his city friends, who took him in and treated his wounds, he managed to escape. As a result, their property was seized by the government. But, recognizing that punishment would not work on Methodios, the emperor attempted to persuade him through argument. As a result of their conversation, Methodios was able to influence the emperor in some way. At any rate, the persecution lessened toward the conclusion of the reign. When Theophilus passed away in 842, everything changed instantly.
His wife, Theodora, was appointed regent for her son Michael III. Since she had always secretly worshiped images, she started immediately to restore images, release the prisoners who had confessed to crimes, and return everything to the Second Nicene Council's rules.
John VI, the patriarch of Constantinople, was a government-appointed iconoclast. He was removed from office for continuing to practice heresy, and Methodios was appointed patriarch in his place. On February 19th, 842, the images were returned to the churches in a solemn ceremony. Throughout his patriarchate, Methodios deposed Iconoclast bishops, replacing them with image-worshippers.
The relics of his predecessor Nicephorus, who had passed away in exile, were conveyed with great respect to Constantinople by Methodios on March 13, 842. They were initially made public in the Church of the Holy Wisdom before being interred there. Methodios is regarded as a saint by both Catholics and Orthodox. His feast day is celebrated on June 14.
Other Saints of the Day
Saint Cearan
Saint Etherius
Saint Nennus
Saint Valerius & Rufinus
Saint Marcian of Syracuse