Ignatius of Constantinople
Patriarch of Constantinople displaced in favour of Photius and restored by the emperor Basil I. Rome upheld him throughout; the Orthodox Church honours both him and Photius.
Ignatius is known here mainly through others. Pope Nicholas I treated him as the lawful patriarch, wrongly driven out while still alive and afterwards deposed by a council of Photius’s supporters, and threatened Photius with anathema if he hindered Ignatius from governing his church (Nicholas I, Letters, 91, chapter 1 (13 November 866), pp. 519–520). The council of 869–870 records that the emperor recalled him to his see and confirmed him in it (Council of Constantinople (869–870), definition). The Synodikon of Orthodoxy names him and Photius together (Synodikon of Orthodoxy, acclamations). See the Photian Schism.
In the timeline
- AD 863 to AD 867, estimated dateThe Photian Schism
Pope Nicholas I refuses to recognize Photius as patriarch of Constantinople and declares him deposed; Photius denounces Latin teaching in Bulgaria, the filioque above all, and his council condemns the pope. The breach is healed, but its arguments return.