St. Methodius

St. Methodius of Constantinople was born in Sicily in the eighth century. He built a monastery on an island named Chinos. The saint then worked with the patriarch of Constantinople to help oversee the diocese. Together, the two men worked against the iconoclasts, who did not believe in the use of images in worship. St. Methodius went to Rome to ask for the pope’s aid in the struggle with the iconoclasts. During his trip, he was exiled. He was only able to return about seven years later, in 842, at which time he became the patriarch of Constantinople. St. Methodius worked to unify the church until he died in 847.