Saint Metrophanes First Patriarch of Constantinople

Also known as Metrophanes I

A bishop of Byzantium in the days of Constantine the Great, honored as the first patriarch of the imperial city, who in great age blessed the gathering of the First Ecumenical Council.

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Commemorated as

Our Father among the Saints Metrophanes, First Patriarch of Constantinople

Life

Metrophanes was a bishop of Byzantium in the age of Constantine the Great, venerated in the Orthodox tradition as the first patriarch of the imperial city. He belonged to a family long associated with the leadership of the Byzantine church: by the account preserved in the synaxarion his father Dometius and his brother Probus both held the episcopal throne of Byzantium before him, and his ministry marks the point at which the see of the city first enters the historical record with reasonable clarity.

His commemoration is tied to the foundational moment of the imperial church. When Constantine the Great moved the capital of the empire from Rome to Byzantium, Metrophanes was brought into the life of the new city, and Orthodox tradition links his episcopate to the gathering of the First Ecumenical Council at Nicaea in 325, which condemned the Arian teaching. He is commemorated on June 4.

Kontakion & Troparion3 hymnsReadHide

KontakionTone 2

You clearly taught the faith of Christ,
and by keeping it you truly increased your faithful flock to a multitude;
and so, Metrophanes, you now rejoice with the angels and unceasingly intercede for us all.

Text used with permission of the Orthodox Church in America (oca.org).

TroparionTone 1

You proclaimed the great mystery of the Trinity, O good shepherd,
and manifested Christ’s dispensation to all,
dispersing the spiritual wolves who menaced your rational flock,
saving the lambs of Christ who cry:
Glory to him who has strengthened you!
Glory to him who has exalted you!
Glory to him who through you has fortified the Orthodox Faith!

Text used with permission of the Orthodox Church in America (oca.org).

TroparionTone 4

In truth you were revealed to your flock as a rule of faith,
an image of humility and a teacher of abstinence;
your humility exalted you; your poverty enriched you.
Hierarch Father Metrophanes,
entreat Christ our God that our souls may be saved.

Text used with permission of the Orthodox Church in America (oca.org).

Timeline4 momentsReadHide

c. 306Bishop of ByzantiumMetrophanes became bishop of Byzantium, following his father Dometius and his brother Probus, who by the synaxarion's account had held the see before him. He is traditionally counted among the early bishops of the city and is the first whose episcopate is attested with relative confidence by contemporary witnesses.
c. 324–330Constantine relocates the capitalConstantine the Great, who according to tradition esteemed Metrophanes' piety, transferred the imperial capital from Rome to Byzantium, which was renamed Constantinople. The synaxarion relates that the emperor brought Metrophanes to the new city and that the elevation of the see to patriarchal honor was associated with this period.
325The First Ecumenical CouncilThe First Ecumenical Council was convened at Nicaea to answer the Arian heresy. By tradition Metrophanes, too old and infirm to attend in person, sent the chorepiscopos (vicar bishop) Alexander to represent him and designated Alexander as his successor.
by tradition 326ReposeAccording to the synaxarion Metrophanes reposed in 326 at an advanced age. He was succeeded by Alexander of Constantinople.

Contributions & Legacy

2 contributionsReadHide

Family and the See of Byzantium

The traditional life sets Metrophanes within a household closely bound to the early Byzantine church. His father, Dometius, is described as a brother of the Roman emperor Probus (276–282) who embraced Christianity during a time of persecution and came to Byzantium with his sons, where they were instructed by Bishop Titus. Dometius was ordained presbyter and afterward raised to the episcopal throne, and his sons Probus and Metrophanes are said to have held the see in turn.

Through Metrophanes the church of Byzantium emerges into clearer historical light; he is reckoned among the early bishops of the city and is the first of them whose tenure is attested by surviving sources, before the city's later rise to imperial and ecclesiastical prominence.

Title of Patriarch and the Question of Dating

Orthodox tradition holds that Constantine the Great had the Fathers of the First Ecumenical Council bestow the title of Patriarch upon Metrophanes, making him the first patriarch of Constantinople. Historians note a difficulty with this account, since Byzantium became the imperial capital only around 330 and the see was formally elevated to a patriarchate only at the Council of Chalcedon in 451; the patriarchal title is therefore generally understood as an honor applied to him in retrospect by tradition.

The sources also differ on the dates of his episcopate and repose. The synaxarion places his death in 326 at a very great age, after the Council of Nicaea, while historical-critical reckoning dates his episcopate to roughly 306–314 and holds that he had likely died before the council met. The profile follows the liturgical tradition while noting this divergence.

Family2 relativesShowHide

A Household of the See of Byzantium

The traditional life places Metrophanes in a family closely bound to the early Byzantine church, his father and brother having held the episcopal throne of the city before him.

Father — a convert to Christianity who came to Byzantium with his sons, was ordained presbyter, and was afterward raised to the episcopal throne of the city.

Dometius of Byzantium

Brother — said to have held the see of Byzantium before Metrophanes succeeded him.

Probus of Byzantium

Companions2 figuresShowHide

His vicar (chorepiscopos) whom the aged Metrophanes sent to represent him at the First Ecumenical Council and designated as his successor in the see.

Saint AlexanderPatriarch of Constantinople

A distinct later saint of the same name, the first bishop of Voronezh.

Saint MetrophanesBishop of Voronezh

Related Saints1 saintShowHide

Saints connected to his life, mission, and place in Orthodox tradition.

The emperor who, by tradition, esteemed Metrophanes' piety, brought him into the life of the new capital, and had the title of Patriarch bestowed upon him.

Emperor Constantinethe Great

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Sources: OCA Synaxarion (oca.org), Lives of the Saints