John VIII of Constantinople


John VIII Xiphilinos, a native of Trebizond, was a Byzantine intellectual and Patriarch of Constantinople from 1064–1075. He was the uncle of John Xiphilinos the Epimator. He is considered "an innovator in the field of the methodology of jurisprudential research."

Biography

John Xiphilinos was born in Trebizond. He pursued studies at the University of Constantinople and eventually became nomophylax of its School of Law. Later he became a monk and was eventually selected by Emperor Constantine X to succeed Constantine Leichoudes.
In 1072 John VIII presided over an assembly of metropolitans and archbishops at the oratory of Saint Alexius in which the question of the election of bishops to vacant sees was discussed. Michael Keroularios had forbidden metropolitans who were resident in Constantinople from participating in such elections. John, however, recognized that metropolitans sometimes had to remain for a long period in the capital due to ecclesiastical business or illness. The assembly with John's consent decreed that metropolitans who gave the patriarch advance notification of their intent could again vote while resident in Constantinople. After his death his remains were buried at the monastery of Angourion on 2 August 1075.
One of the leading Byzantine intellectuals of his day and a leader of legal studies, Xiphilinos was exiled, became a monk, and then was made Ecumenical Patriarch.
John VIII also wrote a hagiography of Saint Eugenios of Trebizond.

Feast day

John VIII has been canonized in the Eastern Orthodox Church and his feast day is celebrated on August 30.