Patriarch Sergius I of Constantinople

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Sergius I (d. December 9, 638 in Constantinople) was the Patriarch of Constantinople from 610 to 638.

During the absence of Emperor Heraclius, the tribe of Avars laid siege to Constantinople. He along with Magistrate Bonus were in charge with the city's defense. He lead a litany to Panagia Odigitria just before the final attack of the Avars, and right after completing it a huge storm crushed the invading fleet, saving Constantinople. The storm was credited as a miracle of the Virgin Mary.

Sergius I promulgated the belief that Jesus Christ had two natures but one will (monothelitism). To this end, Sergius sent his archdeacon Peter to a synod in Cyprus in 634, hosted by Archbishop Arkadios II and with additional representatives from Pope Honorius. The anti-Monothelite side in Jerusalem, championed by Maximus the Confessor and Sophronius, sent to this synod Anastasius pupil of Maximus, George of Reshaina pupil of Sophronius and two of George's own pupils, and also eight bishops from Palestine. When the two sides were presented to the emperor, the emperor persisted with Monothelitism and so with Sergius.^[1]

Monothelitism was declared a heresy at the Third Council of Constantinople (the Sixth Ecumenical Council), AD 680-681.