Synaxarium

On this day in the year 283 A.M. (June 22, 567 A.D.), Saint Theodosius, the thirty-third Patriarch of the See of Mark, reposed. After the repose of Timothy, the bishops and the Orthodox people gathered and consecrated this father as patriarch. He was a scholar and a keeper of the church's books. After a few days, the enemy of good stirred up some wicked people from the city who took Phakios, the chief deacon of the Church of Alexandria, and consecrated him patriarch with the help of Julianus, whom Pope Timothy had excommunicated for agreeing with the Council of Chalcedon. When Phakios was consecrated, they exiled Pope Theodosius to Gerasimanus. Saint Sawiris the Antiochian, who was residing in Sakha in Egypt, comforted and encouraged him, reminding him of the hardships of the apostles and John Chrysostom. After six months of exile, he went to Melig and stayed there for two years. Then the people of Alexandria approached the governor and requested that he order the return of their legitimate shepherd and the expulsion of the intruder Phakios. The news reached King Justinian and the God-loving Queen Theodora, who sent inquiries about the validity of Pope Theodosius's consecration. If it was according to the law, he should receive his seat. They convened a council of the people and one hundred and twenty priests, who unanimously agreed that Theodosius was consecrated by agreement of the bishops and the people according to the law. Phakios was present at the council, stood up, confessed that he was the aggressor, and asked for forgiveness on the condition that he remain chief deacon as before. They sent this to the queen. However, since the king agreed with an incorrect belief, he wrote to his deputy in Alexandria saying: "If Patriarch Theodosius agrees with us in faith, he will be added to the patriarchate the authority over Alexandria; if not, he must leave the city." When the patriarch heard this, he said: "Thus the devil said to the Lord Christ after showing him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory, 'All these I will give you if you fall down and worship me'" (Matthew 4:8-9). Then he left the city and went to Upper Egypt, where he stayed to strengthen the faithful. The king summoned him to Constantinople, and he went there with some learned priests. The king received him with great honor, seated him in a distinguished place, flattered him, and spoke kindly to persuade him to accept the belief of the Council of Chalcedon. When he refused, he was exiled to Upper Egypt, and a man named Paul was appointed in his place. When Paul arrived in Alexandria, the people did not accept him, and he stayed for a year with only a few approaching him. When the king received this report, he ordered the churches to be closed until they submitted to the patriarch appointed by the king. The believers built a church in the name of Saint Mark outside the city and another in the name of Saints Cosmas and Damian, where they worshiped and baptized their children.

When the king heard this, he ordered the churches to be reopened. When Pope Theodosius heard this order, he feared that the king intended to win them over, so he wrote them a letter to strengthen them in the true faith and warn them against the deception of that opponent. He stayed in exile for twenty-eight years in Upper Egypt and four years in the city of Alexandria. He spent thirty-one years, four months, and fifteen days in the patriarchate. This pope authored many homilies and teachings. May his prayers be with us. Amen.

On this day, we commemorate the consecration of the church of the martyr Saint Serapamon, Bishop of Nicopolis.

May his prayer be with us, and to our Lord be glory forever. Amen.