View source for Constantine II of Constantinople

'''Constantine II of Constantinople''' was the Patriarch of Constantinople during the middle of the eighth century, from 754 to 766. A believer in [[iconoclasm]], Patr. Constantine fell from the grace of the iconoclast emperor [[Constantine V]] who had appointed him.

After gaining the imperial throne, emperor Constantine V convened, in February 754, a council of [[bishop]]s at Hieria, on the Asia side of the Bosporus across from Constantinople, The council, which lasted from [[February 10]], 754 to [[August 8]], 754, was attended only by iconoclast bishops. The patriarchal throne was vacant since the repose of Patr. [[Anastasius of Constantinople|Anastasius]] earlier that year and none of the other patriarchs were present or represented. The Council of Hieria approved Constantine's Iconoclastic religious policy and elected Constantine II as the new Iconoclast [[patriarch]] after the emperor announced him at last session of the council. However, the council refused to follow in all of emperor Constantine's views.  

In June 766, emperor Constantine V [[deposition|deposed]] and imprisoned Patr. Constantine who apparently was involved in a plot with [[Iconodule|iconophile]]s against the emperor. The emperor treated him cruelly, had him scourged, and in the autumn of 767 paraded him through the Hippodrome of Constantinople and finally had him beheaded. 

Patr. Constantine II was succeeded by the iconoclast compliant Nicetas I.

{{start box}}
{{succession|
before=[[Anastasius of Constantinople|Anastasius]]|
title=[[List of Patriarchs of Constantinople|Patriarch of Constantinople]]|
years=754-766|
after=[[Nicetas I of Constantinople|Nicetas I]]}}
{{end box}} 

==Sources==
*[[Wikipedia:Patriarch_Constantine_II_of_Constantinople]]  
*[http://www.danielmitsui.com/hieronymus/index.blog?entry_id=1663312 First Iconoclast Controversy]
*[[Wikipedia:Constantine_V]]

[[Category: Bishops]]
[[Category:8th-century bishops]]
[[Category: Heretics]]
[[Category: Patriarchs of Constantinople]]