Ignatius of Constantinople, Saint definition of Ignatius of Constantinople, Saint in the Free Online Encyclopedia.

Ignatius of Constantinople, Saint, c.800–877, Greek churchman, patriarch of Constantinople. A son of Byzantine Emperor Michael I, he was castrated and shut up in a monastery (813) by the man who deposed his father, Emperor Leo V, to prevent his succession to the throne. In 846 or 847, he was made patriarch of Constantinople by the Empress Theodora, who approved his uncompromising zeal against iconoclasm iconoclasm (īkŏn`ōklăzəm) [Gr.,=image breaking], opposition to the religious use of images.
..... Click the link for more information. . After her banishment by her brother Bardas, who became regent for Michael III, St. Ignatius was asked to resign. Photius Photius (fō`shəs), c.820–892?, Greek churchman and theologian, patriarch of Constantinople, b. Constantinople.
..... Click the link for more information. , whose politics were more acceptable, became patriarch. The Ignatian party refused to accept Photius and sought aid from the pope, St. Nicholas I Nicholas I, Saint, c.825–867, pope (858–67), a Roman; successor of Benedict III. He was a vigorous and politically active pope who arbitrated both temporal and religious disputes.
..... Click the link for more information. . On the accession of Basil I Basil I (Basil the Macedonian) (băz`əl, bā`zəl), c.813–886, Byzantine emperor (867–86).
..... Click the link for more information. , St. Ignatius again became patriarch. In 869, St. Ignatius was declared to be the legal patriarch (see Constantinople, Fourth Council of Constantinople, Fourth Council of, 869–70, regarded as the eighth ecumenical council by the modern Roman Catholic Church. It has never been accepted by the Orthodox Church, which instead recognizes the council of 880 that supported Photius .
..... Click the link for more information. ). Ignatius is regarded as a saint by both the Orthodox Eastern and Roman Catholic Churches. Feast: Oct. 23.