On August 8, the Greek Orthodox Church celebrates the Feast Day of Saint Emilian, Bishop of Cyzikus.
Saint Emilian, Bishop of Cyzikus, lived during the reign of the Iconoclast emperor Leo the Armenian (813-820). He was summoned together with other bishops to the court of the emperor, who insistently urged the bishops to refrain from the veneration of holy icons.
Saint Emilian was the first to tell the emperor firmly that the question of the veneration of holy icons should be discussed and decided only within the Church by its spiritual leaders and not at the imperial court. In 815, he was sent to prison for the Orthodox Faith, where he died as a confessor.
Today, the Chancellor of the Archdiocese of Australia, Bishop Emilianos of Melora, celebrates his name day.
May God grant You many blessed years, Your Grace!
*Image by Nick Bourdaniotis/Bourdo Photography (Copyright)
