Edit Saints: St. Tarasius

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'''St. Tarasius''' was the Patriarch of Constantinople from 784 to 806, playing a pivotal role during the period of iconoclasm in the Eastern Church<ref name="oca.org">www.oca.org</ref>. He is celebrated for his convening of the Seventh Ecumenical Council (Second Council of Nicaea) in 787, which officially restored the veneration of icons<ref name="wikipedia.org">en.wikipedia.org</ref>. Before his ecclesiastical career, Tarasius was a layman and statesman, which made his appointment to the patriarchate unusual but significant for church unity<ref name="newadvent.org">www.newadvent.org</ref>. ==Biography== ===Birth=== Tarasius was born around 730 in Constantinople, the Byzantine Empire<ref name="oca.org" />. ===Early Life=== He was well-educated and from a prominent family, receiving a classical education<ref name="wikipedia.org" />. ===Occupation=== Prior to his religious career, he served as a high-ranking lay official in the imperial administration<ref name="newadvent.org" />, including the role of imperial secretary (asekretis). ===Vocation=== He was chosen as Patriarch of Constantinople in 784, initially reluctant but accepted under the condition that an ecumenical council be convened to settle the iconoclast controversy<ref name="oca.org" />. ===Death=== He died on February 25, 806, in Constantinople from natural causes<ref name="wikipedia.org" />. ==Significant events== *Convened the Seventh Ecumenical Council in 787, which ended the first period of iconoclasm<ref name="oca.org" />. *Presided over the restoration of icon veneration in the Eastern Church<ref name="wikipedia.org" />. *Worked towards reconciling the Church with the emperor and the state despite his lay background<ref name="newadvent.org" />. ==Death== St. Tarasius died peacefully in Constantinople, having served the Church for over two decades. ==Canonization== ===Servant of God=== St. Tarasius was not formally recognized as a Servant of God through modern processes; he was recognized as such by tradition<ref name="oca.org" />. ===Venerable=== Not applicable; recognized as a saint by tradition<ref name="oca.org" />. ===Beatification=== Not formally beatified; recognized as a saint by the early Church<ref name="oca.org" />. ===Canonization=== Canonized by tradition; no formal canonization date as he was recognized as a saint from early Christian times<ref name="oca.org" />. ==Miracles== ===Miracle for beatification=== No specific miracles are recorded for his beatification; his sanctity was recognized based on his life and works<ref name="oca.org" />. ===Miracle for canonization=== Not applicable; his sainthood is based on tradition and early Church recognition<ref name="oca.org" />. ===Other notable miracles=== - While not known for specific miracles, his life was celebrated for defending the faith and restoring icon veneration<ref name="wikipedia.org" />. ==Patronage== No specific patronage is widely attributed to St. Tarasius. ==Feast day== His feast day is celebrated on February 25<ref name="oca.org" />. ==Veneration== St. Tarasius is venerated in both the Eastern Orthodox and Roman Catholic Churches for his role in church unity and the defense of icon veneration. His relics were once housed in Hagia Sophia, though their current location is unclear due to historical events<ref name="wikipedia.org" />. ==Books== ===Written about the saint=== *His life and contributions are documented in church histories and hagiographies, but no specific modern books were listed<ref name="wikipedia.org" />. ===Written by the saint=== *St. Tarasius did not leave any known written works<ref name="wikipedia.org" />. ==External links== *[https://www.oca.org/saints/lives/2023/02/25/100604-saint-tarasius-patriarch-of-constantinople Orthodox Church in America on Saint Tarasius, Patriarch of Constantinople]<ref name="oca.org" /> *[https://www.newadvent.org/cathen/14465b.htm New Advent Catholic Encyclopedia on St. Tarasius]<ref name="newadvent.org" /> *[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tarasios_of_Constantinople Wikipedia entry on Tarasios of Constantinople]<ref name="wikipedia.org" /> ==References== {{Reflist}}