Homilies on the Ecumenical Synods - The Sixth Ecumenical Synod (Metr. Hierotheos of Nafpaktos)

 Homilies on the Ecumenical Synods

The Sixth Ecumenical Synod (680-681 A.D.)

By Metropolitan Hierotheos of Nafpaktos and Agiou Vlasiou 

When one reads Church history, beloved brethren, one realizes that there are living spiritual organisms, that is, members of the Church, as were the great Fathers, who lived the mystery of theosis, which means that they participated in various stages of the uncreated purifying, illuminating and divinizing energies of God. At the same time there were other contemplative theologians who tried to theologize in a philosophical way. This created a big problem for the Church.

Also, what one sees is that, unfortunately, politics enters the Church in different ways, which is why some emperors tried to reconcile things, to find some way with a few phrases to unite the Orthodox with the heretics. This was what we might call ecclesiastical and theological diplomacy.

Saint George the Confessor, Bishop of Develtos

The memory of Saint George the Confessor is recorded in Lavreotic Codex E 152 pp. 367a. He is remembered as a Bishop of Develtos in Thrace in the period of the heretical Monotheletes in the seventh century, and he endured many trials by the Scythians for his commitment to the Orthodox faith and piety.

He may be confused with another Saint George who was Bishop of Develtos, who was amongst those deported after the city's surrender to Krum in 812 and was tortured to death by Khan Omurtag in 815 with roughly 380 other martyrs who refused to renounce their faith. This Saint George was clubbed to death and is commemorated on January 22nd.