St Methodios Patriarch of Constantinople

St. Methodios, Patriarch of Constantinople Feast Day and Greek Name Day

St. Methodios, Patriarch of Constantinople is honored in the Orthodox Christian Church as a defender of the veneration of holy icons and a major figure in the restoration of Orthodoxy after the period of Iconoclasm. His feast day is celebrated on June 20, and on this day people named Methodios, Methodios, Methodis, and Methodia, among other variations, celebrate their Greek name day.

Who Was St. Methodios

St. Methodios lived during the 9th century and became one of the most important Church leaders during the struggle over the use of religious icons in the Byzantine Empire.

He was known for his deep education, spiritual discipline, and dedication to Orthodox Christian teaching.

Defender of Holy Icons

During the period known as Iconoclasm, certain Byzantine rulers attempted to remove and destroy religious icons, arguing that their use was improper.

St. Methodios strongly defended the Orthodox belief that icons should be honored as sacred images that help guide believers toward the worship of God.

Because of his position, he suffered persecution and imprisonment for many years.

Patriarch of Constantinople

After the defeat of Iconoclasm, St. Methodios was chosen as Patriarch of Constantinople in 843 AD.

He played a key role in restoring the public veneration of icons, an event that is commemorated in the Orthodox Church as the Triumph of Orthodoxy.

Greek Name Day for Methodios

Because St. Methodios, Patriarch of Constantinople is commemorated on June 20, this date is also the Greek name day for:

Methodios

Methodis

Methodia

In Greek culture, celebrating a name day is often just as important as celebrating a birthday. Friends and family commonly offer well wishes or visits to honor the person whose name is being celebrated.

When St. Methodios Is Celebrated

The feast day of St. Methodios, Patriarch of Constantinople is observed each year on June 20 in the Greek Orthodox Church. He is remembered for defending the veneration of icons and helping restore Orthodox teaching after one of the most difficult theological conflicts in Byzantine history.