Saint Aimilianos the Confessor & Bishop of Cyzikos (8 August)

The Holy Confessor Emilian (Amilianos), the Bishop of Kyzikos, succeeded Bishop Nicholas, and remained in his See from 787 – 815. Saint Emilian suffered many afflictions and sorrows during the reign of the Iconoclast Emperor Leo the Armenian (813-820). He and other bishops were summoned to the Emperor’s tribunal, and Leo ordered the bishops to refrain from teaching their flocks to venerate the Holy Icons. Saint Emilian told the Emperor that the question of venerating icons ought to be discussed and decided only within the Church, by its spiritual leaders, and not at the imperial court. During this time he continued to strengthen his flock by his own example and his unwavering confession of the true Faith.

In the year 815 the Hierarch was banished for five years, enduring much pain and humiliation for the sake of Christ. Saint Emilian went to the Lord in the year 820, and received an unfading crown of glory for his defense of the Holy Icons.

This Saint was one of the illustrious Orthodox Bishops called to Constantinople by the holy Patriarch Nicephorus to defend the veneration of the holy icons against Leo the Armenian (see Mar. 8). Saint Emilian was sent into exile by Leo about the year 815, and gave up his soul to the Lord amidst many afflictions and sufferings for the sake of his confession.

Emilian served as bishop in Cyzicus, during the reign of the nefarious Emperor Leo the Armenian, the iconoclast. Since he did not want to submit to the decrees of the emperor,which demanded the removal of icons from the churches, Emilian and other Orthodox bishops were sent into exile. He spent five years in exile, enduring much pain and humiliation for the sake of Christ. Emilian died in the year 820 A.D. and took up his habitation among the citizens of heaven.

Source: oca.org / goarch.org / westserbdio.org