Saint Polyeuctus, Patriarch of Constantinople

Life

Polyeuctus died in the year 970. Because of his lofty mind, religious zeal and eloquence he was called a second Chrysostom. In the time of Patriarch Polyeuctus and Emperor Constantine Porphyrogenitus, the Russian princess Olga came to Constantinople, and there was baptized in the year 957. The patriarch baptized her, and the emperor was her godfather. Saint Polyeuctus said to her prophetically: "Blessed art thou among Russian women, for thou hast loved the light and cast away the darkness, the sons of Russia will bless thee unto the last generation." From among the simple monks Polyeuctus was taken as patriarch in the year 946 and remained on the patriarchal throne until his death in the year 970.