MICHAEL, THE BISHOP

MICHAEL, THE MARTYR

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MAY 23

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MICHAEL, THE BISHOP. Michael endured fifty years of exile in desolation and want for his eloquent defense of the icons before Emperor Leo, the Armenian. His closeness to God was evidenced on one occasion when he and Saint Theophylactos of Nicomedia caused an abundance of needed rain to fall by their prayers. He was given the honor of the title of confessor because of his outstanding service as priest and then bishop of Synada in Asia Minor. He was also a member of the Seventh Ecumenical Council in 787. At the request of the emperor, he also negotiated peace talks. During yet another iconoclast period, Emperor Leo ordered the destruction of all icons as he equated them to idol worship. Michael was granted an audience with him. He explained that the church was fashioned to a large degree with the help of the saints, and so their pictures were a part of the fabric of the church, and that the worship of Jesus should be held in the presence of his image and that icons should only be venerated, not adored. The first icons were painted by the evangelist, physician Luke. Michael was exiled to preserve Leo from further embarrassment. (Several icons of the Theotokos, painted by Luke, can still be seen today on Mt. Athos at Philotheou and Iveron Monasteries.)

 

MICHAEL, THE MARTYR. Michael was martyred in the ninth century for Christianity and chastity. When Michael was orphaned, he gave away his own property to other orphans, visited the holy places of Jerusalem, and became a monk. On one occasion, he was sent by his abbot to sell monastic wares in the town. He was brought before a princess to show them, but she instead desired the handsome Michael. When he turned to run, she had him captured, beaten, and sent before the sultan on charges of treason for rejecting their religion. The sultan urged him to join the Islamic faith. When he would not, he was given poison to drink, but it had no effect on him. Instead, he was martyred by the sword and his relics were buried by monks at his monastery of St. Savvas.

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