Sergius I (Patriarch of Constantinople)

Patriarch Sergius I ( Greek Πατριάρχης Σέργιος ум; d. 638 ) - Patriarch of Constantinople (610-638).

Came from a Miaphizite Syrian family. In the reign of Emperor Foki in 610 he was enthroned to the patriarchal throne of Constantinople, after the death of Foki, he elected the emperor on an alternative basis and elected Heraclius the Younger.

From the year 610 until his death, he was on friendly terms with the emperor Heraclius , in the absence of which, together with the patrician Vonoz, he ruled the empire. In 613, Patriarch Sergius, for the first time after the adoption of the Code of Theodosius , gave the emperor his consent to his marriage with his niece.

In 626, thanks to the energy of Patriarch Sergius, Constantinople , besieged by the Avars and Slavs, was saved. At that time, Patriarch Sergius organized a procession with the icon of the Most Holy Theotokos around the city walls, with which the Orthodox tradition connects the salvation of the city and the appearance of the thanksgiving homage to the Most Holy Theotokos, the authorship of which is sometimes attributed to Sergius.

Being the right hand of the emperor in all his endeavors, Patriarch Sergius always tried to stay in the background and even acted in the name of the emperor in church affairs. So, about his religious edict, “ Ekfessis, ” Irakli already wrote to Pope John IV upon the death of Sergius: “ I did not dictate it, but Patriarch Sergius composed it five years before I returned from the East and asked me to publish it with my name and by signature . "

According to the historical and theological tradition of the Chalcedonite churches, Patriarch Sergius for the implementation of the so-called. The “Monothelic Union” is considered a heretic- monotheelite , falling under the anathemas of the Sixth Ecumenical Council . The idea of ​​the reconciliation of chalcedonites (diophysites) with antichalcidonites (myaphysites) based on the unifying doctrine of Sergius appeared as early as 610-617. Initially, this was the idea of ​​monoenergy, a doctrine of the single action of Christ, which would divert from the Diophysites the suspicions of Sevir of Antioch in professing a split in Christ. However, monoenergy was in conflict with the teachings of the Pope of Leo , which became the basis of the Chalcedonian religion. Therefore, Pope Honorius suggested that Sergius not touch upon the issue of action, but seek unity solely on the basis of the practice of one-man will. The monothelic confession uniting the universal church through ecfessis was officially proclaimed by Emperor Heraclius in 640 , only after the death of Patriarch Sergius, Pope Honorius and Patriarch Sophronius , before that monoenergy was preached. Shortly before his death, Heraclius renounced monoenergy and mono-phelitism.