Saint Philotheos the Red

Saint Philotheos the Red, this luminous beacon of the Church of Christ and theologian of the Uncreated Light, was born in the city of Saint Demetrius, Thessaloniki, at the end of the 13th century.

Having the privilege of growing up in the Christ-centered society of Byzantium with an ecclesiastical ethos and tradition of many centuries, he acquired a rich and brilliant education, both Christian and secular.

Very young he abandons the world, comes to Mount Athos and becomes a monk. He starts at the Holy Great Monastery of Vatopedi and it is not long before his virtuous and multi-talented character is revealed to everyone. Thus, after a few years he accepts the office of priesthood, as is testified in the Athonite Tome, which he signs as; <<the least Hieromonk Philotheos>>. In 1340 he is invited by the fathers of the Holy Monastery of the Great Lavra and assumes its abbotship, remaining there until 1347.

Then he was voted and ordained, against his will, as Metropolitan of Heraklion. While Saint Isidore was on the patriarchal throne. It is worth remembering that - as historical sources reveal - this happened with the encouragement and blessing of Saints Savvas of Vatopedi and Gregory Palamas, with whom he had a very close connection and had also been their student.

Later, in 1353, he was elected Patriarch of Constantinople, thus ascending to the highest Ecumenical throne. After a short period of time, he voluntarily left due to some political confusion, he returned for a second time, in 1364, and remained on the throne until his blessed end (1379).

His entire life and writings present the saint to us as a great spiritual figure, a holy hierarch of the prestige of the old glorious hierarchs of the Church, a theologian and author of ecclesiastical texts on a par with the most well-known and renowned Fathers and teachers of the Orthodox faith.

He combined pastoral care and ministry to the people with a hesychast and mystical lifestyle, humility and poverty of spirit in Christ, with the grace of theology and the admirable handling of the word.

With his multifaceted virtue and the gifts of the Spirit, he appeared unyielding in the difficulties but also in the many and great responsibilities of the Ecumenical Patriarchate.

It was not long before he sensed the papal danger and the errors of the Western heresy, which is why he was a relentless opponent of it, writing a multitude of theological, refutational and apologetic works.

Also, with the distinction of a shepherd enlightened by divine grace, he undertook to strengthen the bonds of all Orthodox peoples. He worked very hard for this purpose and prevented hostilities between Orthodox, while at the same time demonstrating paternal interest and solidarity with neighboring Orthodox Churches.

Because of his impassioned love for God and his saints, and especially his contemporaries and compatriots, he wrote many hagiological works, in which he presents in a wonderfully brilliant style the lives of holy hierarchs, martyrs, saints, and fools for Christ, such as the lives of Saint Gregory Palamas, Saint Savvas the fool for Christ, Saint Isidore of Constantinople, the Holy Martyr Anysia, Saint Nicodemus the Younger, Saint Germanus of Maroulis, etc.

He fell asleep on October 11, 1379.