[quote]JeffR wrote:
“He represented the god of procreation”
Penetration leads to salvation!!!
JeffR
[/quote]
Amen.
You donkeys are acting like Al Shades.
Shut your .9-banana-hole and learn something.
Martyr Leonidas of Corinth
The Holy Martyr Leonidas and the Holy Martyrs Charissa, Nike, Galina, Kalisa (Kalida), Nunekhia, Basilissa, and Theodora suffered at Corinth in the year 258. They threw them into the sea, but they did not drown. Instead, they walked upon the water as if on dry land, singing spiritual hymns. The torturers overtook them in a ship, tied stones around their necks and drowned them.
Virginmartyrs Agape, Irene, and Chione in Thessalonica
The Holy Martyrs Agape, Irene, and Chione were sisters who lived at the end of the third century to the beginning of the fourth century, near the Italian city of Aquilea. They were left orphaned at an early age.
The young women led a pious Christian life and they turned down many offers of marriage. Their spiritual guide was the priest Xeno. It was revealed to him in a vision that he would die very soon, and that the holy virgins would suffer martyrdom. Also at Aquilea and having a similar vision was the Great Martyr Anastasia, who is called “Deliverer from Potions,” because she fearlessly visited Christians in prison, encouraging them and healing them from potions, poisons, and other harmful things. The Great Martyr Anastasia visited to the sisters and urged them to endure all things for Christ. Soon what was predicted in the vision came to pass. The priest Xeno died, and the three virgins were arrested and brought to trial before the emperor Diocletian (284-305).
St. Chione (“snow” in Greek) preserved the purity of her baptism according to the words of the Prophet-King David, “You will wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow” (Ps. 50/51:7).
St. Irene (“peace” in Greek) preserved the peace of Christ within herself and manifested it to others, according to the Savior’s word, “My peace I give you” (Jn 14:27).
St. Agape (“love” in Greek) loved God with all her heart, and her neighbor as herself (Mt 22:37-39).
Seeing the youthful beauty of the sisters, the emperor urged them to deny Christ and he promised to find them illustrious bridegrooms from his entourage. The holy sisters replied that their only Bridegroom was Christ, for Whom they were ready to suffer. The emperor demanded they renounce Christ, but neither the elder sisters, nor the youngest, would consent. They called the pagan gods mere idols made by human hands, and they preached faith in the true God.
By order of Diocletian, who was leaving for Macedonia, the holy sisters were also to be brought there. And they brought them to the court of the governor Dulcititus.
When he saw the beauty of the holy martyrs, he was aroused with impure passion. He put the sisters under guard, and he told them that they would receive their freedom if they agreed to fulfill his desires. But the holy martyrs replied that they were prepared to die for their Heavenly Bridegroom, Christ.
Then Dulcititus decided to have his way by force. When the holy sisters arose at night to glorify the Lord in prayer, Dulcititus came to the door and tried to enter, but an invisible force prevented him. He staggered about, unable to find his way out. The he fell down in the kitchen among the cooking utensils, the pots and pans, and he was covered all over with soot. The servants and the soldiers recognized him only with difficulty. When he saw himself in a mirror, he then realized that the holy martyrs had made a fool of him, and he decided to take his revenge on them.
At his court, Dulcititus gave orders to strip the holy martyrs. But the soldiers were not able to do this, no matter how much they tried. Their clothing seemed to be stuck to the bodies of the holy virgins. During the trial Dulcititus suddenly fell asleep, and no one could rouse him. Just as they carried him into his house, he immediately awoke.
When they reported everything that had happened to the emperor Diocletian, he became angry with Dulcititus and he gave the holy virgins over to Sisinius for trial. He began with the youngest sister, Irene. Seeing that she remained unyielding, he sent her to prison and then attempted to sway Sts. Chione and Agape. He also failed to make them renounce Christ, and Sisinius ordered that Sts. Agape and Chione be burned. On hearing the sentence, the sisters gave thanks to the Lord for their crowns of martyrdom. In the fire, Agape and Chione surrendered their pure souls to the Lord.
When the fire went out, everyone saw that the bodies of the holy martyrs and their clothing had not been scorched by the fire, and their faces were beautiful and peaceful, as if they were asleep. On the day following, Sisinius gave orders to bring St. Irene to court. He threatened her with the fate of her older sisters and he urged her to renounce Christ. Then he threatened to hand her over for defilement in a brothel. But the holy martyr answered, “Even if my body is defiled by force, my soul will never be defiled by renouncing Christ.”
When the soldiers of Sisinius led St. Irene to the brothel, two luminous soldiers overtook them and said, “Your master Sisinius commands you to take this virgin to a high mountain and leave her there, and then return to him and report to him that you have fulfilled his command.” And the soldiers did so.
When they reported back to Sisinius, he flew into a rage, since he had given no such orders. The luminous soldiers were angels of God, saving the holy martyr from defilement. Sisinius went to the mountain with a detachment of soldiers and saw St. Irene on the summit. For a long while they searched for the way to the top, but they could not find it. Then one of the soldiers wounded St. Irene with an arrow. The martyr cried out to Sisinius, “I mock your impotent malice, and I go to my Lord Jesus Christ pure and undefiled.” Having given thanks to the Lord, she lay down upon the ground and surrendered her soul to God on the very day of Holy Pascha (+ 304).
The Great Martyr Anastasia heard about the end of the holy sisters, and she buried their bodies with reverence.
[quote]stellar_horizon wrote:
They threw them into the sea, but they did not drown. Instead, they walked upon the water as if on dry land, singing spiritual hymns.[/quote]
Amen.
This thread is just about bordering on the bazaar.
However, i ont think i have found somethng so funny as jeffr post.
For you others, just lighten up a little. the interjections are almost surreal.
http://images.t-nation.com/forum_images/./1/.1114819694420.khorne-lord.gif
Ok, my turn now.
KHORNE, THE BLOOD GOD
Khorne is the Blood God, the Lord of Skulls, also known among many of the northern tribes as Arkhar or Kharnath, as well as a myriad of other names. He is perceived as an angry, raging god of bestial strength and merciless battle prowess who rewards bravery, might at arms and conquest. In the few depictions of Khorne that exist, he is represented as an overly-muscled [a real T-God, dontch’a think? pookie.], beast-headed being, sitting on a massive brass throne atop a mountain of skulls, said to be the skulls of those slain by his Champions, as well as the heads of his followers who have fallen in battle. Chained to his throne are flesh hounds, and it is written in dark texts that a follower can call upon Khorne to let loose these merciless hunters upon a foe, in particular those craven enemies who refuse to fight in open battle.
There are no temples to Khorne and few true ceremonies in his name, for he is the God of War and is worshipped on the battlefield. The only known dedication is the bloodthirsty battle-cry roared by all his followers – “Blood for the Blood God!”
In the wider world beyond the Chaos Wastes, some worship the god Khaine, Lord of Murder, though whether the Elven god Khaine is Khorne by another name or a lesser power in his own right is debated over by scholars inclined to such heretical and dangerous subjects.
Khorne despises spellcasting and magic in general, although magical weapons and armour that aid the slaughter in his name are a different matter. There are no wizards dedicated to Khorne, for a Champion of Khorne is the embodiment of the warrior who battles his enemy face-to-face rather than blasts his foes from afar with magical bolts. Axes are the favoured weapons of Khorne, and another common mark worn by his followers is the Collar of Khorne: a massive studded ring clasped around the neck in imitation of the collars worn by the Flesh Hounds.
Champions of Khorne are unpredictable fighters, for they believe that a day gone by without a death in Khorne’s name is a day wasted. For this reason, they are as likely to attack friends as much as foes, particularly when true enemies are hard to come by. Khorne’s Champions are highly competitive, and unless they believe that their god has brought them together for a grander battle to come, when two Champions meet it almost inevitably ends in bloodshed and the death of one or both of them.
Welcome my brethren to the TRUE FAITH!!!
We must all gather around the fern tree and pick fronds.
TOGETHER!!!
Remember to bring at least a thimble full of spirits to keep away the GOD FEAR!!!
Here is your new REALITY!!!
Krishnavataram!!!
friend, philosopher and guide!!!
“Ugrasenan ruled Mathura.”
Only Ugrasenan could rule Mathura. He used chocolate to tempt Mathura to his crib. Then he turned on John Wayne movies. Finally, he made his move.
“He had a daughter called Devaki who was married to Vasudevar.”
I always thought Devaki was a slut.
“Devaki’s brother Kamsan was driving the chariot with the newly wed couple.”
Secretly, Kasman wanted Devaki. I know, I don’t like that part.
“An asariri (divine voice) called out that the eighth child of Devaki would kill Kamsan.”
PROTECT KASMAN!!! NO!!! Imagine an all encompassing voice saying, “Return the map, Devaki. Return what you have stolen from me.”
“The outraged Kamsan rushed to kill Devaki, but Vasudevar pleaded, that since the trouble was from Devaki’s children, he would hand over all her children to Kamsan.”
Sounds like something you’d read in the West Virginia State Constitution.
“Kamsan put Devaki, Vasudevar and Ugrasenan in prison.”
Don’t bend over for the soap.
“Kamsan mercilessly killed six of Devaki’s children.”
Damn.
“Devaki was pregnant for the seventh time and this time it was Adisesha’s amsam in her womb.”
What a slut!!!
Do you think she tried the old “immaculate conception” gambit?
Oh, wait, only dumb asses would fall for that.
“Lord Vishnu arranged for this child to be transferred to the womb of Rohini, another wife of Vasudevar, who lived in Aayarpaadi.”
Eugenics. Neolithic style!!!
“Rohini gave birth to a beautiful and powerful child who was named Balarama. Kamsan assumed that Devaki had lost her seventh child.”
That dolt!!!
“The eighth child was Lord Krishna. When Krishna was born Vasudevar, carried the child by God’s grace from the locked prison through rain and floods to the house of Nandagopar and Yasodha in Aayarpaadi. On the way, Aadiseshan covered the basket, protecting the child Krishna from the ravages of nature.”
From this came the story of the Little Red Riding Hood.
“Vasudeva left Krishna beside Yasodha and carried away her new born child (Parameswari, the maya child) to the prison.”
Parameswari, ended up on Broadway. She was a REAL SIREN!!!
“Kamsan, on hearing the birth of Krishna rushed to the prison, grabbed the child and tried to kill the child. The child however, rose up to the skies and ridiculed kamsan, that his arch enemy was still alive elsewhere and vanished.”
Wouldn’t you vanish?
Join me in the telling of the tale of:
Krishna as a child
“In Aayarpaadi, everybody was thrilled and overjoyed.”
Have you ever been to a strip club in Aayarpaddi?
Once you’ve gone Aayarpaddi, you never go back!!!
“There were great celebrations. Krishna grew up enjoying the love and affection showered by all.”
Just like Gerald Ford.
“Kamsan started sending asuras in search of Krishna. Even as a child, Krishna killed several asuras such as Boodaki, Thirunavardhan, Denukan, Bagan, Sagadasuran, and several others. He revealed to his mother Yasodha, the entire universe within his tiny open mouth.”
Yuck.
“The mighty Kaalinga (snake) was subdued by him.”
No one has every subdued my Kallinga. There was this girl in Newark…
“He controlled the snake and danced on its head.”
Presidental Knee pads?
“He gave protection to the people of Gokulam for over a week from the heavy rains caused by Indra, by lifting the Govardana giri (mountain) and holding it as an umbrella. He killed Kamsan of Mathura. The Gopikas were thrilled by his venu gaanam (flute).”
Stellar Horizon, do you play with your gaanam?
“Krishna married Rukmini. (Rukmini’s brother Rukmi wanted her to marry his friend Sisubaalan. Krishna lifted Rukmini on to his chariot, swiftly reached Dwaraka and married Rukmini).”
The Lord said onto David, eat more fiber and your bowels shall move.
“The day that Krishna killed Naragasuran is celbrated as Deepavali. In the episode of obtaining the Syamantakamani, he married Jambavati, Jambavan’s daughter and Satyabama Satrajit’s daughter.”
Thouest must change thy oil every 10,000 miles or you shall be smote.
“(Krishna’s sister Subadra was married to Arjuna. Their son Abhimanyu married Vatsala, Balarama’s daughter).
The pancha Pandavas were cheated of their kingdom by Duryodhana, his brothers and Duryodhana’s uncle Sakuni. With Krishna by thier side, the Pandavas ultimately defeated the Gauravas and got back their kingdom. (In the war field Krishna advised Arjuna to do his duty only and not to worry about the consequences, when Arjuna worried over killing his relatives.) Geethopadesam to Arjuna by Lord Krishna is truly a way of living to be followed by all human beings.”
Follow. Don’t question. Just follow.
JeffR
JeffR
Thank you for your posts. The stark contrast between the demonism which you describe and the holiness of the saints proclaims God’s glory.
I had no idea that this thread was so funny. “Orthodox Christian Saints” as a title just doesn’t do it justice. To think I heckled Doogie in the other thread… sorry man. I am proud to be a donkey now.
And in the spirit of keeping the faith, I’d like to remind all of my brothers here of the greatness which is ANAT:
Embodying a motif common of goddesses throughout the Middle East, Anat personifies a high level of energy which can find its outlet in sexuality or combat, the passionate ecstacy of sex and war. While probably unrelated, She has affinities with the Indian goddess Kali Ma, the Black Mother, who is bringer of life and death, love and fear.
Anat is reminiscent of Sekhmet, the Egyptian lioness-headed, solar disc crowned warrior goddess. Sekhmet fights as defender or to right a wrong and can be benign or uncompromisingly just. She lives on the Mountain of the Setting Sun. Anat’s myths include a story much like one of Sekhmet’s, how in a heightened state brought about by the slaying of an entire army, after wading hip deep in blood, Anat enters Her palace and in joyful ecstacy annihilates the furniture imagining it to be another army, until the gods and their assistants succeed in calming Her, as the gods subdue Sekhmet with a blend of pomegranate juice and beer which She quaffs thinking it is blood.
Now that’s my kind of girl. Gimme a leather-clad War Goddess any day of the week.
[quote]lothario1132 wrote:
I had no idea that this thread was so funny. “Orthodox Christian Saints” as a title just doesn’t do it justice. To think I heckled Doogie in the other thread… sorry man. I am proud to be a donkey now.
[/quote]
No worries.
Is this like Pokemon? How many points are these saints worth? Is it on the back of the cards?
DragonBallZ, you dumbass.
Hieromartyr Simeon the Bishop in Persia, and those with him in Persia
The Hieromartyr Simeon, Bishop of Persia, suffered during a persecution against Christians under the Persian emperor Sapor II (310-381). They accused the saint of collaborating with the Roman Empire and of subversive activities against the Persian emperor.
In the year 344 the emperor issued an edict which imposed a heavy tax upon Christians. When some of them refused to pay it, this was regarded as an act of rebellion, so the emperor began a fierce persecution against Christians.
St. Simeon was brought to trial in iron fetters as a supposed enemy of the Persian realm, together with the two hieromartyrs Habdelai and Ananias. The holy bishop would not even bow to the emperor, who asked why he would not show him the proper respect. The saint answered, “Formerly, I bowed because of your rank, but now, when you ask me to renounce my God and abandon my faith, it is not proper for me to bow to you.”
The emperor urged him to worship the sun, and he threatened to eradicate Christianity in his land if he refused. But neither urgings nor threats could shake the steadfast saint, and they led him off to prison. Along the way the eunuch Usphazanes, a counsellor of the emperor, saw the saint. He stood up and bowed to the bishop, but the saint turned away from him because he, a former Christian, out of fear of the emperor, now worshipped the sun.
The eunuch repented with all his heart, he exchanged his fine attire for coarse garb, and sitting at the doors of the court, he cried out bitterly, “Woe to me, when I stand before my God, from Whom I am cut off. Here was Simeon, and he has turned his back on me!”
The emperor Sapor learned about the grief of his beloved tutor and asked him what had happened. He told the emperor that he bitterly regretted his apostasy and would no more worship the sun, but only the one true God. The emperor was surprised at the old man’s sudden decision, and he urged him not to abjure the gods whom their fathers had reverenced. But Usphazanes was unyielding, and they condemned him to death. St. Usphazanes asked that the city heralds report that he died not for crimes against the emperor, but for being a Christian. The emperor granted his request.
St. Simeon also learned about the death of Usphazanes, and he gave thanks to the Lord. When they brought him before the emperor a second time, St. Simeon again refused to worship the pagan gods and confessed his faith in Christ. The enraged emperor gave orders to behead all the Christians in the prison before the saint’s eyes.
Without fear the Christians went to execution, blessed by the holy hierarch, and they bent their heads beneath the sword. St. Simeon’s companion, the Priest Habdelai, was also beheaded. When they came to the Priest Ananias, he suddenly trembled. Then one of the dignitaries, St. Phusicus, a secret Christian, was afraid that Ananias would renounce Christ, and he cried out, “Do not fear the sword, Elder, and you will see the divine light of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
St. Phusicus betrayed himself by this outburst. The emperor gave orders to pluck out his tongue and to flay the skin off him. Along with St. Phusicus, his daughter Askitrea was also martyred. St. Simeon was the last to go before the executioner, and he placed his head on the chopping-block (April 13, 344). Executions continued all during Bright Week until April 23.
St. Azates the Eunuch, a close official to the emperor, also received the crown of martyrdom. The sources indicate that 1,150 Martyrs perished because they refused to accept the Persian religion.
St. Agapitus the Pope of Rome
Saint Agapitus, Bishop of Rome, was a zealous adherent of Orthodoxy. By his pious life he won the general esteem and was elevated to the See of Rome in the year 535.
The Gothic king Theodoric the Great sent Agapitus to Constantinople for peace negotiations. Along the way, St. Agapitus encountered a man who was lame and mute. He healed him of his lameness, and after receiving the Holy Mysteries the mute one spoke. After arriving in Constantinople, the saint healed a blind beggar.
At that time, a local Council was convened in Constantinople. St. Agapitus participated in it and zealously defended the Orthodox teaching against the heretic Severus, who taught that the Body of the Lord Jesus Christ was subject to decay similar to every man’s body.
St. Agapitus died at Constantinople in the year 536.
Martyr Victor of Nicomedia
The Holy Martyrs Victor, Zoticus, Acindynus, Xeno, Severian and Caesarius suffered under the emperor Diocletian (284-305) when he began a fierce persecution against Christians. One of the first to suffer was the holy Great Martyr and Victory-Bearer George. St. George’s unshakable faith and bravery during his suffering led many pagans to Christ.
The saints were struck with astonishment that St. George suffered no harm from the wheel of torture, and they declared in the hearing of all that they also believed in Christ. At the judge’s order, the holy martyrs were beheaded at Nicomedia in 303.
Venerable John the Disciple of the Venerable Gregory of Dekapolis
Saint John was born at the end of the eighth century. At a young age he became a disciple of St. Gregory of Dekapolis and accepted monastic tonsure from him at a monastery in Thessalonica. Under the guidance of this experienced teacher, St. John attained great spiritual perfection.
When the emperor Leo the Armenian (813-820) renewed the persecution against Orthodox Christians because they venerated the holy icons, St. Gregory of Dekapolis and St. Joseph the Hymnographer and his disciple St. John went from Thessalonica to Constantinople, to raise opposition to the Iconoclast heresy.
In spite of persecution, Sts. Gregory and John fearlessly defended Orthodoxy for several years, and preached the veneration of icons. After many hardships St. Gregory died (around 820), and soon after, his faithful disciple John also departed to the Lord. St. Joseph the Hymnographer transferred the relics of Sts. Gregory and John and placed them in the church of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker.
New Martyr John the New of Epirus
The Holy Martyr John Kulikos was born in the Greek district of Epirus, in the city of Ioannina. His parents were pious, but he was orphaned at an early age, and he went to Constantinople. With the means left him by his parents, he built a small stall in the city bazaar and was occupied with trade.
He loved to work, he honorably filled all his orders, and his business was successful. However, his soul did not yearn for earthly blessings, but for the Kingdom of Heaven.
St. John lived during difficult times. Constantinople was under the dominion of the Turks, and Christians were subjected to oppressions. Many Christian tradesmen and merchants went over to the Moslem religion. St. John reproached them for their betrayal of Christ, and he also sustained the unwavering in their faith. The apostates were filled with hatred for St. John, and they desired his ruin. The saint knew this, but was not afraid. He was willing to suffer for Christ.
On Great and Holy Friday he went to his spiritual Father and asked his blessing to seek martyrdom. The priest counseled the youth to examine himself and to prepare himself by fasting and prayer, so that at the time of torture he would not deny Christ. St. John prayed ardently to the Lord to strengthen him. At night on Great and Holy Saturday he saw himself in a dream, standing in a fiery furnace and singing praises to the Lord. Interpreting this vision as an indication to go to martyrdom, St. John received the Holy Mysteries and asked the priest’s blessing.
When St. John arrived at the market, the vexed tradesmen began to reproach him that he had promised to renounce Christ, but that he was not fulfilling his word. In reply, the martyr declared that he was a Christian and had never renounced, nor would he ever renounce Christ.
Then the envious merchants had him arrested. The judge tried to persuade St. John to accept Islam, for he respected him as a skilled master craftsman. But the martyr steadfastly confessed himself a Christian. For several days, they wearied him with hunger and thirst, and beat him without mercy. They sentenced the martyr to be burned alive.
St. John met his sentence with joy. When they led him to the blazing fire, he went boldly into the midst of the flames. The torturers, seeing that St. John was prepared to die in the fire, pulled him out and beheaded him with the sword (+ 1526). They then threw the martyr’s head and body into the fire.
Christians gathered up the bones of the martyr which remained from the fire, and reverently brought them to the cathedral church.
Monkmartyr Agathangelus of Esphigmenou of Mt. Athos
The Monk Martyr Agathangelus, in the world Athanasius, was born in the city of Enos, Thrace, and was raised in a strict Orthodox family. After the death of his parents Constantine and Krystalia, he became a sailor. The Turks wanted to convert the skilled and intelligent youth to Islam, but knew that he would not do so of his own free will. So they arrested him in the city of Smyrna, wounded him and threatened him with death, then demanded that he become a Moslem.
The youth was terrified and promised to do as they asked, hoping to escape from the bullies and then go back on his promise. However, he was unable to do this for a long time. Tormented by pangs of conscience, he was able to quit the city and seek refuge on Mount Athos. Igumen Euthymius of Esphigmenou monastery confessed him and blessed him to become a novice.
St. Athanasius considered even his most intense efforts insufficient to atone for his sin of apostasy. He believed that he had to suffer martyrdom for Christ, and he began to pray about this.
On the fourth Sunday of Great Lent the nineteen-year-old youth was tonsured as a monk with the name Agathangelus.
St. Nicholas the Wonderworker appeared to the new monk in a dream and promised to help him. The igumen of the monastery saw this as a special sign, and blessed St. Agathangelus to bear witness to Christ at Smyrna before those who forced him to become a Moslem.
In the Ottoman courtroom the confessor told how they had compelled him to accept an alien faith. Then he publicly renounced Islam and confessed himself a Christian. They began to cajole and admonish St. Agathangelus to reconsider his statement. He replied, “I will not give in to you, nor to your threats, nor to your promises. I love only Christ, I follow only Christ, only in my Christ do I hope to know happiness.”
The judge threatened him with death by torture. “I am prepared to endure all for my Christ! I accept every manner of torment with the greatest joy! I ask only that you do not tarry in carrying out your word,” the saint replied.
They bound St. Agathangelus with heavy chains, hammered his feet into wooden boots, and threw him into prison. With him were two other wrongly condemned Christians. One of them, Nicholas, gave an account of the saint’s martyrdom.
On the following day, St. Agathangelus was again brought before the judge in fetters. Bravely enduring all the torments which the Turks had readied for him, he again was sent to prison. Nicholas told him that a certain influential man would intervene before the judge for his release, but St. Agathangelus wrote a note to this man asking that he not attempt to free him, but to pray to God that he be strengthened for martyrdom.
The saint readied himself for the final trial. At midnight, it was revealed to him in a vision that they would execute him no later than five o’clock, and he waited for the appointed hour. At about the fourth hour, a watch was placed over him. Seeing no possibility of converting the confessor from his faith in Christ, the judges decided to execute him. Absorbed in prayer, the martyr did not take notice the preparations for execution, nor the large throng of people.
He was beheaded at the fifth hour of the morning, on April 19, 1818. Christians gathered up the holy relics of the martyr and buried them in the city of Smyrna, in the church of the Great Martyr George.
A portion of the relics of St. Agathangelus was sent to the Esphigmenou monastery on Mount Athos in 1844.
St. Tryphon the Patriarch of Constantinople
Saint Tryphon, Patriarch of Constantinople, was a monk from the time of his youth, distinguished by his meekness, lack of malice, full submission to the will of God, and his firm faith and love for the Church. At this time the emperor Romanus (919-944) ruled in Constantinople. He wanted to elevate his younger son Theophylactus to the patriarchal throne. When Patriarch Stephanos (925-928) died, Theophylactus was only sixteen years old. The emperor then suggested that St. Tryphon be “locum tenens” of the patriarchal throne until Theophylactus came of age.
St. Tryphon meekly accepted the burden of patriarchal service and for three years he wisely governed the Church. When Theophylactus turned twenty (931), the emperor told St. Tryphon to resign the patriarchal throne. St. Tryphon did not consider it proper to hand over the throne to an inexperienced youth, and he refused to do so. The emperor could not intimidate St. Tryphon, since his life was blameless. Then Romanus employed the cunning counsels of Bishop Theophilus of Caesarea.
The deceitful bishop went to St. Tryphon and urged him not to obey the emperor, and not to resign the patriarchal throne. Then Bishop Theophilus craftily obtained St. Tryphon’s signature on a blank sheet of paper. Not suspecting any treachery, the guileless saint took a clean sheet of paper and wrote: “Tryphon, by the Mercy of God, Archbishop of Constantinople, the New Rome, and Ecumenical Patriarch.”
When they presented this paper to the emperor, he ordered them to write over the saint’s signature: “I hereby resign the position of Patriarch, because I consider myself unworthy of this office.” When this false document was read before the imperial dignitaries, servants removed St. Tryphon from the patriarchal chambers.
St. Tryphon patiently endured the injustice done to him, and returned to his own monastery. He lived there as a simple monk for a year before his death (+ 933). His body was taken to Constantinople and buried with the Patriarchs.