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{{cleanup}}Our father among the [[saint]]s '''Nicephorus Iof Constantinople''', also ''Nikephoros'' and the [[Confessor]], was the [[Patriarch]] of Constantinople from 806 to 815 during the era of [[iconoclasm|iconoclastic]] disputes during the early ninth century. His [[feast day]] is celebrated on [[June 2]], and the [[Translation (relics)|translation]] of his [[relics]] from Prokonnis to Constantinople on [[March 13]].

==Life==St. Nicephorus was born about 758 . He was well educated. His father, Theodore, was secretary to the emperor [[Constantine V]] Copronymus, a iconoclast. Theodore, however, was an iconodule and came into conflict with the emperor who removed him from his position and then had him scourged and tortured before banishing him. Thus, Nicephorus grew up with his father's example of defending the veneration of the images before his eyes.  When Constantine VI and [[Irene of Athens|Irene]] came to the imperial throne and died restored the use of sacred images in churches, Nicephorus came to their notice and soon obtained their favor and was placed in 828his father's former position. He distinguished himself greatly by his zeal against the Iconoclasts. He also was secretary to the [[Seventh Ecumenical Council]]. After the death of [[Patriarch]] [[Tarasius of Constantinople]] on [[February 25]], 806, no one was found more worthy to succeed him than Nicephorus. Like To give an authentic testimony of his namesake faith, during the time of his consecration he held in his hand a treatise he had written in defense of holy images, and fellow-historian Gregoras five centuries laterafter the ceremony was concluded, he sacrificed his position laid it in back the [[altar]] as a pledge that he would always maintain the tradition of the Church. Over the following years, emperor Constantine was blinded, Irene banished, emperor Nicephorus I, her successor, had fallen before the Bulgarians, emperor Michael I was driven from the throne, and, in 813, Leo the defense Armenian became emperor. He was an iconoclast. Leo began a campaign to suppress the veneration of Orthodox doctrine against the [[heresyicon]] s and to persuade Patr. Nicephorus to approve their removal. But, the Orthodox conscience against dictation from patriarch did not bend. Forseeing the statestorm gathering, Patr. Nicephorus and several [[bishop]]s and [[abbot]]s spent most of their time in [[prayer]]. Soon, emperor Leo, with certain Iconoclastic bishops, sent for Patr. His patriarchate (806Nicephorus and his fellow-815) was markedbishops. They obeyed the summons to the palace, but entreated the emperor to leave the government of the Church to her pastors. In a rage Leo drove them from his presence. Later, the iconoclast bishops assembled in the imperial palace and terminateddirected Patr. Nicephorus to appear before them, to which he responded, "Who gave you this authority?" Saying he would obey only to one of the other patriarchs.  The iconoclastic bishops proceeded to pronounce against him a sentence of [[deposition]] and the holy pastor, after several attempts had been made secretly to take away his life, was sent by the reaction instigated by emperor into banishment. Michael the Stammerer, who succeeded Leo V against the restoration Armenian, in 820, also favored the iconoclastic faction, and continued to harass S. Nicephorus, who died in exile, on [[June 2]], 828, in the [[monastery]] of veneration St. Theodore. By order of religious imagesthe empress [[Theodora (9th century empress)|Theodora]], his body was brought to Constantinople with great pomp, on [[March 13]], 846.  His principal works are three writings against iconoclasm.

[[Troparion]] ([[Tone]] 3)[http://www.oca.org/FSTropars.asp?ID=101581]

:O holy [[Hierarch ]] Nicephorus.:You suffered unjust exile through reverence for the [[icon ]] of God the Word.

Troparion (Tone 4)[http://www.oca.org/FSTropars.asp?ID=101581]

:An image of [[meekness ]] and a teacher of [[abstinence]].:You attained [[heaven ]] through [[humility]]

[[Kontakion]] (Tone 4)[http://www.oca.org/FSTropars.asp?ID=101581]:You received from God the victor’s victor's crown;

 {{start box}}{{succession|before=[[Tarasius of Constantinople|Tarasius]]|title=[[List of Patriarchs of Constantinople|Patriarch of Constantinople]]|years=806 – 815|after=[[Theodotus I of Constantinople|Theodotus I]]}}{{end box}} ==Source==*[http://www.archive.org/stream/livesofsaints03bariiala/livesofsaints03bariiala_djvu.txt The Lives of the Saints - UCLA Library Vol 3] ==External links==*[http://ocafs.oca.org/FeastSaintsLife.asp?FSID=100792 Translation of the relics of St Nicephorus the Patriarch of Constantinople] ([[OCA]])*[http://ocafs.oca.org/FeastSaintsViewer.asp?SID=4&ID=1&FSID=101581 St Nicephorus the Confessor the Patriarch of Constantinople] (OCA)*"Nicephorus" in ''New Schaff-Herzog Encyclopedia of Religious Knowledge'', Vol. VIII, pp. [http://www.ccel.org/ccel/schaff/encyc08/Page_158.html 158]-[http://www.ccel.org/ccel/schaff/encyc08/Page_159.html 159] at the Christian Classics Ethereal Library*[[w:Ecumenical Patriarch Nikephoros I of Constantinople|''Ecumenical Patriarch Nikephoros I of Constantinople'' at Wikipedia]] [[Category: Saints]][[Category:Byzantine Saints]][[Category: Patriarchs of Constantinople]][[Category: Bishops]][[Category:9th-century bishops]][[Category:9th-century saints]] [[ro:Nichifor I de Constantinopol]]