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.