ON ST. SERGIUS THE CONFESSOR DRIVEN INTO EXILE AT CONSTANTINOPLE.
UNDER THE ICONOMACHS.
CommentarySergius the Confessor at Constantinople, driven into exile (St.)
G. H.
Famous is the memory of St. Sergius the Confessor among the Greeks: and first in the Menology of Basil Porphyrogenitus the Emperor this his eulogy exists: Sergius the Confessor of Christ, born at Constantinople, Eulogy from the Menology of Emperor Basil. son of noble and rich parents. But when the most sacred and venerable images he attended with worship, by the iconoclasts he was seized, and to the impious Emperor Leo led, with the name of Leo. now with flatteries, now with threats was ordered from the cult of the holy images to depart. But when he did not assent, but rather the tyrant as an abominable thing detested, and his speeches and threats as trifles despised, and with highest confidence of mind pronounced; that the holy images are to be cherished, and by all the faithful of Christ rightly honored, just as if that honor to the Prototype, of which is the image, were exhibited; with a rope tied to his neck, as a wicked and malefactor, through the forums dragged he was: then into prison thrust and publicly guilty was denounced, and of his riches deprived, together with his wife Irene and children was relegated: where when very many evils and grave enmities he had sustained, by Baronius surnamed Isaurian: he migrated to Christ. Thus there. But who this Leo Emperor was, is not indicated. Baronius interpreting Leo the Isaurian, reports in the Annals the martyrdom of St. Sergius at year DCCXXXV.
[2] On the contrary in the MS. Synaxarium of the Constantinople Church, preserved in the Clermont College of the Society of Jesus at Paris, another from the MS. Synaxarium this persecution is attributed to Theophilus the Emperor, who reigned from year DCCCXXIX until year DCCCXLII, about whose cruelty we have treated on the Life of St. Theodora his wife XI February. In the said Synaxarium these things are read: On the same day, XIII May, the memory of our holy Father Sergius the Confessor. He was born at Constantinople, of an illustrious and great Family, a worshipper of the holy and venerable images: for which cause he was ordered to appear before the persecutor and impious Emperor Theophilus, and with ropes around the neck bound, with the name of Theophilus: through the forum like a malefactor was led around; then of riches, which he had very many, despoiled, together with his wife Irene and children into exile he is sent away, where many tribulations and various temptations having endured, he migrated to Christ. Thus in the said Constantinople Synaxarium.
[3] Another finally encomium of the same holy man we have in the great printed Greek Menaea, a third from the Greek Menaea without the name of the Emperor. but with the Emperor's name omitted, which is of this kind. On the same day of S. P. N. Sergius the Confessor. Sergius and by birth illustrious and great, and with renowned mind was celebrated. He was therefore brought before the impious and persecuting Emperor on account of the cult of holy and sacred images, and with a rope to his neck tied, through the populous forum led and led around, with mockeries and insults affected and laden he was: afterwards stripped of all his goods, into prison was thrust: and at last with wife, children and whole family was cast into exile: and so even from foreign evils and afflictions he triumphs, with various calamities afflicted. Whence by God he was called to heaven, worthy from the agonothete Christ rewards to receive. A similar eulogy formed in his Menology Sirletus; with the Emperor's name also omitted. The memory however of this St. Sergius is celebrated in the Gallican Martyrology, printed at Liège in year MDCXXIV, and in Ferrarius in his Notes on this day of the general Catalogue.