Commemorated on October 23
Saint Ignatius was born into a royal family in the year 799 AD. His father, Michael I, and grandfather from his mother Prokopia’s side, Nicephorus I, served as emperors of the Byzantine Empire from the years 802 – 813. However, this did not make for an easy life and he suffered through trials and hardships.
At a very young age, he was made commander of the imperial guards.
When he was 15, his father was forced out of the throne my Leo the Armenian. Unwillingly, he was castrated on Leo’s command. Because he could not bare children to inherit the throne, he was unable to become an emperor.
Leo also had Ignatius placed in a monastery as a form of imprisonment.
This was beneficial to Ignatius as he grew strong in the faith and remained pious and humble. He was tonsured as a monk, and due to his dedication to the lifestyle, he was eventually chosen as the Geronda of the monastery.
With time, he also founded three new monasteries on an island near Constantinople.
The time had passed and it was now roughly the year 847 AD. The emperor was now Theophilus, a known Iconoclast. When he deceased, his wife Empress Theodora administer the empire, as their son Michael was too young. She was a strong supporter of the veneration of icons. Knowing of Ignatius good deeds, she appointed him Patriarch of Constantinople.
When Ignatius was appointed Patriarch he immediately took matters into his
hands to flush out any support of iconoclasm. The Bishop of Syracuse, Gregory,
was removed from power and he went to Pope Leo IV of Rome to appeal this choice
and conflict between Constantinople and Rome brewed.
Michael, son of Empress Theodora, grew older and with time his Uncle undermined Theodora’s authority around the year 857 AD.
His Uncle, Theodora’s brother, Caesar Bardas, was a sinful man who lived a reckless lifestyle. Saint Ignatius tried to encourage him to repent of his ways, but he has no interest.
Ignatius revealed openly of Bardas’ sinful ways and then excommunicated him from the church. Angered, he plotted to take Ignatius out of authority. He convinced Michael to send his mother to a monastery so she no longer had influence on the empire. Ignatius refused to tonsure her as a monastic, knowing of his plots.
Bardas went to the Pope Leo IV and slandered Ignatius, telling Leo that Igantius spoke poorly against the him and Rome. This further stirred trouble between Rome and Constantinople and to avoid increased conflict between Rome, Ignatius was forced to resign as Patriarch. Bardas also had Igantius exiled from Constantinople.
While exiled, many supported him and attempted to get his position returned as Patriarch. Pope Nicholas, at this time, used the dispute to attempt and increase his authority over the Eastern empire, again straining relations between the east and west.
When Basil the Macedonian came into power, Ignatius was appointed Patriarch a second time in the year 867 AD.
He maintained the polices of Photios who had been Patriarch during his exile. He lived out the rest of his years with peace, giving his soul to the lord in 877 AD.
Photios was appointed Patriarch of Constantinople once more, as recommended by Ignatius.