Thomas II of Constantinople

Saint Thomas II was patriarch of Constantinople from 667 until his death in 669. In a time troubled by the Christological disputes, he remained Orthodox in faith and teaching. Our sources do not agree on his day of commemoration: some give 15 November, others 16 November, and one Russian source 28 November. Little is known of his life.

Before the patriarchate

He served in the patriarchate as deacon, chartophylax, scribe, referendarius and chancellor of the Patriarchate, and as director of the old people's home Scala Gerokoeion and the poorhouse Neapolis Ptochotropheion. He was elected patriarch from the diaconate, more than six and a half months after the repose of his predecessor, Patriarch Peter. One source dates his consecration to Holy Saturday of the year 665, and another, following the research of the historian John Andreev in 1895, to 17 April 667.

The patriarchate

The length of his rule is not certain, for the sources differ. Patriarch Nikephoros gives two years and seven months, Theophanes the Confessor three years, and the list of Leoglavios four years and seven months. Andreev preferred two years and seven months, whence the end of his rule on 15 November 669. Other data give 665 to 668. He died in peace, in 668 or 669.

His rule fell in a time of change of emperors: Constans II died in 668, and after him Constantine IV came to the throne. In church policy the ban on discussing the wills and operations in Christ, set by the Type of 647 or 648, remained in force. The definitive conciliar decision on this came later, at the Sixth Ecumenical Council, Constantinople, of 680 and 681. After Thomas's death the throne was taken by John V, whose election the Orthodox Encyclopedia dates to 25 November 669.