Saint Philotheus I of Constantinople

Philotheus I of Constantinople (Greek: Φιλόθεος Κόκκινος; c. 1300 – 1379) was the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople for two periods from August 1353 to December 1354 and from 8 October 1364 to August 1376, and a leader of the Byzantine monastic and religious revival in the 14th century. His numerous theological, liturgical, and canonical works received wide circulation not only in Byzantium but throughout the Slavic Orthodox world. Philotheus I was appointed patriarch in August 1353 by the emperor John VI Kantakouzenos, deposed by John V Palaiologos in December 1354, then restored to the patriarchal throne on 8 October 1364. He opposed Emperor John V in his intent to negotiate the political re-union of the churches with Popes Urban V and Gregory XI. Instead, in 1367 he supported the proposed assembly of an authentic, ecumenical union-council, in order to properly resolve the differences with the Western Church. Philotheus I is commemorated on 11 October, and is regarded as a "Protector of Orthodoxy", alongside Saints Photius I of Constantinople, Mark of Ephesus, and Gregory Palamas. Philotheus' early life is not known. He was a native of Thessalonika and is believed to have been born about the year 1300. His mother was a Jewish convert to Orthodox Christianity. He was taught by the Thomas Magister (d. 1347), one of the most learned men of the time, and showed great talent for theological as well as secular studies. Philotheus entered the monastic life early, first becoming a monk at Mount Sinai, then later at Mount Athos. At Mount Athos, he lived his monastic life first at Vatopedi monastery, where he formed a relationship with Savvas the New of Kalymnos the Fool-For-Christ (d. 1350), for whom he became a biographer. Later he went on to the Great Lavra Monastery, where he formed a relationship with Saint Gregory Palamas, for whom he became a biographer as well.