Saint Mark of Ephesus

Mark of Ephesus (Greek: Μᾶρκος ὁ Ἐφέσιος, born Manuel Eugenikos, also called Markos Eugenikos) was a hesychast theologian of the late Palaiologan period of the Byzantine Empire who became famous for his rejection of the Council of Ferrara–Florence (1438–1439). As a monk in Constantinople, Mark was a prolific hymnographer and a follower of Gregory Palamas' theological views. As a theologian and a scholar, he was instrumental in the preparations for the Council of Ferrara–Florence, and as Metropolitan of Ephesus and delegate for the Patriarch of Alexandria, he was one of the most important voices at the synod. At the beginning of the Council, Mark was initially favorable toward accepting the union. During the commission's work, he authored several theological works, including Ten Arguments Against the Existence of Purgatory, Summa of Sayings on the Holy Spirit, Chapters Against the Latins, Confession of Faith, and On the Time of the Transubstantiation. Over this period, he distanced himself from the idea of accepting the union, concluding that the teachings of the Western Church were inconsistent with the dogmas of the Ecumenical Councils. After renouncing the council as a lost cause, Mark became the leader of the Orthodox opposition to the Union of Florence, thus sealing his reputation as a defender of Eastern Orthodoxy and pillar of the Eastern Orthodox Church. Mark was born Manuel Eugenikos in Constantinople in around 1392. His parents were George Eugenikos, sakellarios of Hagia Sophia, an Orthodox deacon, and Maria Loukas, the daughter of a devout doctor named Luke. Mark learned how to read and write from his father, who died while Mark and his younger brother John Eugenikos were still children. Maria had Mark continue his education under John Chortasmenos, who later became Metropolitan Ignatius of Selymbria, and a mathematician and philosopher by the name of Gemistus Pletho. St.