Saint Paul the New, Patriarch of Constantinople
Commemorated on August 30.
Saint Paul, by birth a Cypriot, became Patriarch of Constantinople (780-784) during the reign of the Iconoclast Emperor Leo IV the Khazar (775-780), and was a virtuous and pious, but timid man. Seeing the martyrdom which the Orthodox endured for the holy icons, the saint concealed his Orthodoxy and associated with the iconoclasts.
After the death of the emperor Leo, he wanted to restore icon veneration but was not able to accomplish this, since the iconoclasts were still quite powerful. The saint realized that it was not in his power to guide the flock, and so he left the patriarchal throne and went secretly to the monastery of Saint Florus, where he took the schema.
He repented of his silence and association with the iconoclasts and spoke of the necessity for convening the Seventh Ecumenical Council to condemn the Iconoclast heresy. Upon his advice, Saint Tarasius (February 25) was chosen to the patriarchal throne. At that time, he was a prominent imperial counselor. The saint died as a schemamonk in the year 804.
Troparion
O God of our Fathers,
always act with kindness towards us;
take not Your mercy from us,
but guide our lives in peace
through the prayers of the Patriarchs Alexander, John, and Paul.
Kontakion
Set aflame by the love of Christ, O glorious ones,
you took up the yoke of His precious Cross revealing yourselves as followers in His footsteps by your way of life,
and you became partakers of His divine glory,
divinely-wise Alexander, with wonderful John and glorious Paul.
As you stand before His throne, earnestly pray for our souls.