Saint Photius

February 6

       Saint Photius was born in Constantinople about the year 820 in a rich and noble family. Photius received the best for the time education and was the most learned representative of Byzantine Empire.
         He was a teacher in the prominent Magnaura school in Constantinople, where the Slavonic equal to Apostle Constantine – Cyril the Philosopher and later the Bulgarian king Simeon the Great. Photius occupied prestigious positions in the state, but most of all he liked to do with science. Because of his extraordinary gifts and high education he was nominated in 858 for Patriarch of Constantinople.
    Patriarch Photius encouraged Constantine the Philosopher to become the Christian missionary to the Slavs. He wrote to the Bulgarian king Boris the First a detailed brief for the Christian belief and life.
    Saint Photius left a great literary heritage, thanks to which we are aware of the works of ancient authors of his time.
     The Church remembers Saint Photius on February 6. His name comes from the Greek photos – light (in Bulgarian svetlina), and the Saint is the patron of everyone having “svetlina” in his name. 
 

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