Saint Justinian, Byzantine Emperor

Life

Justinian was a Slav by origin, likely a Serb, from the region of Skopje. His Slavic name was Upravda. He succeeded to the throne his uncle Justin. The entire greatness of this emperor is inseparably bound to his deep Orthodox faith. He believed and lived according to the faith. During Great Lent he ate no bread nor drank wine, but nourished himself with vegetables and drank water, and that during the day. He waged war against the Danube barbarians solely because they mutilated captives. This shows his exalted sense of love for mankind. He was fortunate and successful both in wars and in works. He built a great number of magnificent churches, among them the most beautiful of the most beautiful – Hagia Sophia in Constantinople. He collected and published Roman laws. He himself issued many strict laws against immorality and licentiousness. He composed the church hymn "Only-begotten Son and Word of God" which began to be sung at the Liturgy from the year 536. He convened the Fifth Ecumenical Council in 553. He ended his life peacefully on November 14, 565, in the eightieth year of his life, and passed into the Kingdom of the heavenly King.