4th century
Saint Paul I the Confessor, Patriarch of Constantinople
A fourth-century Patriarch of Constantinople repeatedly exiled by pro-Arian emperors, finally strangled while celebrating the liturgy.
Biography
Paul was born in Thessaloniki in the early fourth century and served as secretary to Patriarch Alexander of Constantinople, whom he succeeded on the throne in 337. The pro-Arian emperor Constantius, however, removed him and installed Eusebius of Nicomedia in his place, sending Paul into exile in Rome.
Through the intervention of Emperor Constans he was temporarily restored, but after Constans died he was exiled again, this time to Cucusus in Armenia. There, while he was celebrating the Divine Liturgy, Arians attacked him and strangled him with his own omophorion. His incorrupt relics were later brought to Constantinople and are today kept in Venice.