St. Photios the Great

Photios was the most learned man of his age, a layman and scholar who was made Patriarch of Constantinople in 858. He sent Sts. Cyril and Methodius to the Slavs and guided the baptism of the Bulgarians. He was the first to write at length against the Filioque, the Latin addition to the Creed. He was deposed twice and died in exile in 893, but the council of 879–880 confirmed his teaching.

• Feast: February 6 (New Calendar)
• Lived: c. 810–893
• Place: Constantinople