Pope Benedict XVI Blog

Pope: seeing the beauty of God in the Church, not only the sins of men

» 04/29/2009 14:23
VATICAN

To the faithful present at the general audience, Benedict XVI illustrates the figure of Germanus of Constantinople, an important patriarch during the period of the controversy of iconoclasm, and in Mariology. His teaching continues to invite people to follow Christ in order to become again the image of God, and love for the Church and for the beauty of the liturgy.

Vatican City (AsiaNews) - Asking God to "teach us to see in the Church his beauty and his hope," to learn to love the Church, because in it, beyond the sins of man, the divine light is present. This is the place where "God speaks with us," where "we receive the forgiveness of God and learn to forgive." This is the exhortation that Benedict XVI addressed today to the 35,000 people present in St. Peter's Square for the general audience, during which, continuing with the illustration of the figures of the early Church, he talked about Germanus of Constantinople, who, although "he is not one of the most significant figures of Eastern Christianity," was nonetheless important during the controversy of iconoclasm, and for his thinking in the field of Mariology.

Born in 635, and elected patriarch of Constantinople in 715, in that year the capital of the Byzantine Empire underwent "an extremely dangerous siege" by the Saracens, during which Germanus led a procession with numerous icons to invoke the defense of the city. In fact, Constantinople was liberated from the siege. "Gratitude for the divine assistance was extremely great among the people," and Germanus "became convinced that the help had been due to the veneration people had shown to the sacred icons." The emperor Leo III was of a different opinion, "convinced that the consolidation of the empire had to begin with a readjustment of the faith," which had to be safeguarded from the risk of idolatry, precisely because of excessive devotion to icons.

The opposition of Germanus achieved nothing, and in 730 the emperor took an open stance against the veneration of images. Germanus did not want to give in to the orders of the Emperor. As a result, he was forced to resign as patriarch, exiling himself to a monastery, where he died in 733.
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See also:

"Germanus of Constantinople: Defender of Holy Images"

"Pope Benedict reflects on the 'Defender of Images'"

posted by Dr. Denice Hanley, DPM, M.Div. @ 12:45 AM