Saint Proclus, Patriarch of Constantinople

Life

Proclus was a disciple of Saint John Chrysostom. In the year 426 he was consecrated as Bishop of Cyzicus, and in 435 he was chosen as Patriarch of Constantinople. He governed the Church of God as a wise hierarch. During his time two notable events occurred. First, the relics of Saint John Chrysostom were transferred from Comana to Constantinople, at the wish of the emperor and patriarch. And at that time Emperor Theodosius the Younger reigned with his sister Pulcheria. Second, there was a great earthquake in Constantinople and the surrounding area. Many of the most beautiful and largest buildings collapsed from the terrible tremor. Then the patriarch with the emperor and a multitude of clergy, nobles, and people went out in procession. And as they were praying to God in the procession, it happened that a certain child was miraculously taken high into the air so that finally it could no longer be seen with the eyes. After this it returned and descended gently to the earth. When asked where the child had been, it answered that it had been taken to heaven among the angels and had heard how the angels sing: Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us! Hearing that hymn, all the people in the procession began to sing it, and the earthquake immediately ceased. From that time this wondrous hymn became established in the Church. And that child soon reposed and was buried in the church of Saint Irene. Saint Proclus served as hierarch for twenty years and reposed peacefully in the Lord in the year 446.