Tarasios

On this day we celebrate the memory of Tarasios, Archbishop of Constantinople.

Tarasios set out the dogmas about the veneration of the holy icons, which was in danger of being completely set aside and disappearing from the Church of Christ. He worked so that the holy and ecumenical seventh Council was held in 783, when Constantine and Irene were reigning. Through this Council the Roman kings returned again to the venerable traditions of the holy and most honourable Apostles and the previous holy and Ecumenical Councils. Thus, the holy Church of Christ was united with the Patriarchates. So, this holy man lived piously and was honoured and respected by the forementioned kings. He also built a monastery ot the place beyond the Constantinople straight (Peran?) where he gathered a multitude of monks. Moreover, he gave alms to the poor and ministered the Church of God for twenty-two years or, as some others say, for twenty-one years and two months. Then he slept in peace and was buried at the forementioned monastery, which he himself had built. In appearance he was like Gregory the Theologian except for the white hair, which the Theologian had, and a mark which he had on his eye.