samedi 4 avril 2015

Saint PLATON de SAKKUDION, abbé, fondateur et confesseur

One of the exterior facades of the St. John Stoudios (Imrahor) Monastery, built in 462 AD, is one of the oldest surviving Byzantine churches in Istanbul (Constantinople).


Saint Platon

Fondateur du monastère de Sakkoudion en Bithynie (+ 814)

Confesseur.

Il avait abandonné de grands biens et une haute situation pour devenir moine d'abord en Bithynie puis abbé du monastère de Sakkoudion à Constantinople. Lorsque l'empereur Constantin VI répudia sa femme pour épouser une cousine de saint Platon, celui-ci fut un des rares à oser le condamner. Ce qui lui valut quatorze ans de prison et bien d'autres persécutions. Libéré, il se réfugie quelque temps au Studion en reclus. Le patriarche Nicéphore le fait enfermer dans l'île d'Oxeia, dans l'archipel des Princes, parce que Platon n'acceptait pas son élévation trop subite au trône patriarcal. Revenu au monastère de Studion sur ordre de l'empereur Michel Ier, il meurt trois ans plus tard en chantant l'hymne: " Je suis la Résurrection et la Vie".

À Constantinople, en 814, saint Platon, higoumène, qui combattit avec un courage invincible plusieurs années contre les briseurs des saintes images et, avec son neveu saint Théodore, organisa le célèbre monastère Studite.

Martyrologe romain

SOURCE : http://nominis.cef.fr/contenus/saint/918/Saint-Platon.html

Saint Platon de Sakkudion

Abbé du Sakkudion près de Constantinople

Fête le 4 avril

Constantinople v. 734 – † 19 mars 813

Autre graphie : Platon ou Plato

Il entra au monastère des Symboles sur le Mont-Olympe, en Bithynie, et en 770, à trente-six ans, devint abbé. Quand il alla à Constantinople en 775, il refusa diverses dignités mais accepta finalement de devenir abbé du Sakkudion à Constantinople. Il fut poursuivi par l’empereur pour s’être opposé à son divorce, et persécuté par l’administration impériale jusqu’en 811, trois ans avant sa mort.

Platon de Sakkoudion (735-814)

Moine byzantin

Oncle maternel, et père spirituel, de Théodore Studite. Il n’a laissé aucun écrit, et la principale source à son sujet est l’oraison funèbre prononcée à sa mort par Théodore Studite et les lettres qu’il lui adressa précédemment.

Il était issu d’une illustre et riche famille de hauts fonctionnaires de Constantinople. Ses parents s’appelaient Serge et Euphémie. Ses parents disparurent pendant une grande peste qui est certainement celle qui frappa Constantinople en 747, dépeuplant presque entièrement la capitale et provoquant le transfert momentané de la cour impériale à Nicomédie [1].

Il fut recueilli par un homme de sa parenté qui exerçait d’importantes responsabilités dans la gestion des finances publiques et qui lui fit donner une formation de secrétaire impérial. Très diligent et très capable, au bout de quelques années il remplit la réalité des fonctions de son tuteur, qui n’en conservait que le titre.

Il parvint à accroître la fortune de sa famille, qui était déjà grande. Il fréquentait alors les plus hauts responsables de l’État et était connu de l’empereur Constantin V lui-même. Il faut noter que son beau-frère Photeinos père de Théodore Studite, était également, selon la Vita Theodori, un haut fonctionnaire proche de la personne de l’empereur.

En 759, âgé de 24 ans, il décida de se retirer du monde et de prendre l’habit monastique. Il vendit ses biens, y compris la maison de son père, et en distribua le produit aux pauvres, émancipa ses esclaves, et fit avec un seul serviteur le trajet jusqu’au mont Olympe de Bithynie [2], près duquel il se fit tondre la tête par son compagnon, revêtit une robe de bure, renvoya l’esclave en larmes vers la ville, et se présenta au monastère des Symboles, alors dirigé par l’abbé Théoctiste. Le responsable des novices, apprenant de quel milieu il était issu, lui déconseilla de rester, mais il réaffirma sa résolution d’affronter toutes les épreuves de cette vie.

Dans les années suivantes, il se signala par sa parfaite obéissance, son zèle à participer à toutes les tâches, même les plus basses, son absence totale d’arrogance vis-à-vis de ses compagnons d’origine plus humble. Les deux éléments cardinaux de sa règle de vie, selon Théodore, étaient : la confession à son directeur, et l’obéissance totale. Remarquable par ses vertus monastiques, il devint bientôt un proche de l’abbé Théoctiste, qui le mit longtemps à l’épreuve, le réprimandant devant des tiers de manière humiliante, sans que jamais son zèle diminuât. Il poussait le goût de l’ascèse jusqu’à réclamer lui-même à l’abbé de se faire fustiger. Quand Théoctiste mourut, vers 770, Platon prit tout naturellement sa place à la tête de la communauté.

Après la mort de Constantin V survenue le 14 septembre 775, Platon réapparut dans la capitale. Ce retour fit du bruit, et tout Byzance se l’arracha. Il se livra à la prédication, et régla bien des contentieux, y compris à l’intérieur des familles. Cependant, la période où il resta abbé des Symboles dura environ douze ans, soit jusqu’en 782, date à laquelle, Irène ayant établi sa régence. Vers cette époque, Platon se vit offrir successivement le poste d’higoumène [3] d’un monastère urbain, puis celui de métropolite [4] de Nicomédie par le patriarche lui-même, mais il déclina ces propositions, refusant même de se faire ordonner prêtre.

C’est alors qu’il attira toute la famille de sa sœur Théoctistè, y compris son beau-frère Photeinos et les trois frères de celui-ci, vers la vie monastique. Tous les hommes, selon la Vita Theodori, s’installèrent dans une propriété qui lui avait appartenu en Bithynie, appelée Boskytion, où se trouvait un oratoire du nom de Sakkoudion. Un nouveau monastère y fut fondé, dont Platon devint le supérieur.

Il joua un rôle important pendant le 2ème concile de Nicée [5], aux côtés du patriarche Taraise.

Il abandonna ses fonctions et son titre d’abbé à son neveu Théodore en 794, tenant à se soumettre entièrement à son autorité comme n’importe quel moine, et s’imposant d’autre part un surcroît de mortifications, comme de porter par exemple en permanence des chaînes clouées aux pieds. Parmi les tâches de toutes sortes auxquelles il prit part jusqu’à sa vieillesse, Théodore signale sa grande habileté artistique dans la copie des manuscrits, employant un verbe particulier désignant semble-t-il un certain type d’écriture.

Il fut mêlé ensuite à deux controverses qui lui attirèrent les foudres du pouvoir impérial. D’une part, en janvier 795, l’empereur Constantin VI répudia son épouse Marie d’Amnia , et en septembre de la même année il se remaria avec sa favorite Théodotè, ancienne dame de compagnie de l’impératrice déchue, et qui se trouvait être aussi une parente de Platon lui-même. Le vieil ascète dénonça haut et fort cet adultère et rompit la communion avec l’higoumène Joseph, qui avait célébré le mariage, exigeant son excommunication par le patriarche.

Le monastère de Sakkoudion fut investi par une troupe armée, les moines molestés et dispersés, ses principaux responsables arrêtés. Traîné devant l’empereur, Platon fut ensuite enfermé dans un monastère situé dans l’enceinte du Palais, sous la garde de l’higoumène Joseph dont il réclamait la destitution. Cette détention prit fin après le renversement de Constantin VI par sa propre mère Irène, le 18 août 797.

Joseph fut alors destitué et excommunié par le patriarche Taraise, qui, selon Théodore, exprima ses regrets à Platon de ce qui s’était passé. Peu de temps après, du fait de dangereuses incursions des musulmans en Bithynie, l’impératrice Irène offrit le monastère urbain de Stoudios [6], presque abandonné, à la communauté de Sakkoudion, qui y déménagea.

Le 18 février 806, le patriarche Taraise mourut, après quoi le nouvel empereur Nicéphore engagea les consultations pour son remplacement. Platon, invité comme d’autres à se prononcer, tenta de peser sur l’élection d’une façon qui irrita profondément le souverain, notamment quand il se déplaça de nuit pour s’entretenir de ce sujet avec un religieux qui était proche parent de Nicéphore. Le vieux moine et son neveu Théodore furent arrêtés et incarcérés pendant 24 jours. L’empereur imposa sur le trône patriarcal un haut fonctionnaire laïc, son homonyme Nicéphore , et peu après obtint de lui la réintégration dans le clergé de l’ex-higoumène Joseph, un homme qui l’avait bien servi pendant la révolte de Bardanès Tourkos .

Le conflit fut alors rallumé avec Platon et son entourage, et en janvier 809, le monastère de Stoudios fut investi par une troupe militaire, et Platon, Théodore et son frère Joseph, métropolite de Thessalonique [7], arrêtés. Ils furent déférés devant un synode, où Platon, âgé de 74 ans, dut comparaître soutenu par deux hommes. Déclarés schismatiques, ils furent relégués sur les îles des Princes [8], chacun sur une île différente, Platon étant sur Oxeia [9]. Selon Théodore, cette détention fut extrêmement cruelle pour le vieillard, abandonné dans une cellule aux mauvais traitements d’un serviteur mesquin, qui tirait parti des infirmités de son grand âge pour l’humilier.

Finalement, il fut rapporté à l’empereur Nicéphore que Platon ne tarderait pas à mourir si ce régime était maintenu, si bien qu’il autorisa son retour à Constantinople, peu avant sa propre mort à la bataille de Pliska [10] le 26 juillet 811. Les condamnations qui frappaient Platon et ses neveux furent alors annulées, et ils purent réintégrer le monastère de Stoudios, mais le vieillard était alors paralysé sur une litière, ne pouvant plus même lire tout seul. Il mourut deux ans et demi plus tard.

P.-S.

Source : Cet article est partiellement ou en totalité issu de l’article de Wikipédia Platon de Sakkoudion/ Portail du monde byzantin/ Religieux byzantin/

Notes

[1] Nicomédie est une ville d’Asie mineure, capitale du royaume de Bithynie. Elle est appelée Izmit aujourd’hui. Hannibal s’y donna la mort en 183 av. jc et l’historien Arrien y naquit vers 90 ap. jc. Elle fut la capitale des empereurs Dioclétien et Constantin.

[2] Le mont Uludağ en français « grande montagne », est la plus haute montagne de l’Ouest de la Turquie (2 543 m d’altitude). Il se situe à environ 30 kilomètres au sud de la ville de Bursa et marque la frontière de la province du même nom. Elle consiste en une longue formation d’environ 15 km de long par 3 km de large. Son sommet le plus élevé se nomme Kartaltepe

[3] Un higoumène ou hégoumène est le supérieur d’un monastère orthodoxe ou catholique oriental. Le terme équivaut à celui d’abbé ou d’abbesse dans l’Église latine.

[4] Métropolite est un titre religieux porté par certains évêques des Églises d’Orient. À l’origine, le métropolite est l’évêque d’une capitale de province (métropole) romaine investi de la charge de présidence des conciles ou synodes provinciaux. Dans l’Église d’Occident, on prit l’habitude de dire « métropolitain » pour désigner un archevêque assurant un rôle de coordination entre les évêques titulaires des sièges qui composent la province ecclésiastique. En Orient on utilise le terme de métropolite qui, au cours de l’histoire, est souvent synonyme d’archevêque. Dans l’Église orthodoxe d’aujourd’hui, les deux termes ont des usages distincts. Mais il faut distinguer l’usage grec, l’usage russe et l’usage roumain. La grâce conférée lors de l’ordination à un métropolite et à un évêque est la même. Le droit canonique introduit cependant des différences, sur le plan juridique, entre les titulaires des différents sièges épiscopaux.

[5] Le deuxième concile de Nicée est un concile œcuménique qui eut lieu en 787. Convoqué par l’impératrice Irène, il avait pour objectif de mettre un terme au conflit politico-religieux provoqué par l’iconoclasme. Le concile a affirmé la nécessité de vénérer les images et les reliques : l’honneur n’est pas rendu aux images, ni aux reliques mais, à travers elles, à la personne qu’elles représentent.

[6] Le monastère du Stoudion ou monastère de Stoudios était un établissement religieux de Constantinople fondé vers 460 par un bienfaiteur privé du nom de Studius ou Stoudios, un aristocrate qui fut consul pour l’année 454. Il était placé sous le vocable de saint Jean Baptiste. Il était situé à l’extrême sud-ouest de la ville byzantine, dans le quartier de Psamathia, non loin du Mur de Théodose et de la mer de Marmara. Ses moines étaient appelés « studites » ou « stoudites ». Il reste aujourd’hui les ruines de l’église du monastère, le plus ancien édifice chrétien subsistant partiellement à Istanbul.

[7] Thessalonique ou Salonique est une ville de Grèce, chef-lieu du district régional du même nom, située au fond du golfe Thermaïque. Aujourd’hui, elle est la capitale de la périphérie (région) de Macédoine centrale en Macédoine grecque mais aussi celle du diocèse décentralisé de Macédoine-Thrace.

[8] Les Îles des Princes sont un archipel de neuf îles dans la mer de Marmara au sud-est d’Istanbul en Turquie. Sous le nom d’Adalar, elles forment l’un des trente-neuf districts d’Istanbul.

[9] Sivriada est une des îles de l’archipel des Îles des Princes à Istanbul. Elle est actuellement déserte. L’île a souvent été utilisée par les religieux byzantins comme un lieu de culte calme et reculé, ainsi que par les empereurs byzantins comme une prison convenable pour détenir des personnes importantes qui leur semblaient gênantes. Le premier homme célèbre à avoir été emprisonné sur l’île sur ordre de l’empereur Nicéphore fut Platon de Sakkoudion, oncle du célèbre clerc Théodore Studite, pour la publication de livres de l’antiquité païenne.

[10] La bataille de Pliska ou de Virbitza est une bataille opposant le khan bulgare Kroum à l’empereur byzantin Nicéphore 1er le 26 juillet 811. Elle se conclut par l’une des plus grandes défaites de l’empire byzantin.

SOURCE : https://www.ljallamion.fr/spip.php?article5770

Saint Plato


Also known as

  • Platon

Memorial

Profile

Plato’s wealthy parents died of disease before he was 13. Raised and educated by an uncle who was a treasurer, and Plato soon handled much of his uncle’s business. Excellent student. Pious from youth, he turned away from the world of the royal court, freed his slaves, sold his estates, gave the money to his sisters and the poor, and at age 24 he moved to the monastery at Symbolean on Mount Olympus, though he never took holy orders and remained a layman. He spent his days in prayer, menial labour, and copying holy booksAbbot in 770. Given to severe fasts and self-deprivation.

In 775 Plato made a journey to Constantinople on business, and managed to inspire many of the citizens of all stations to better, more pious lives. The patriarch Paul tried to make him bishop of Nicomedia, but Plato retreated to his monastery.

His sister Theoctista’s entire family embraced a religious state, founded a monastery of Saccudion, near Constantinople, and prevailed upon Plato to direct it in 782. In 794 he turned it over to his nephew, Saint Theodorus.

The emperor Constantine repudiated his empress, Mary, and married Theodota, a relative of Plato; Plato and Theodorus published a sentence of excommunication against him. Joseph, the treasurer of the church, and several other mercenary priests and monks, tried to convince Plato to approve the emperor’s divorce, but he refused, scolded the emperor to his face, and was imprisoned until Constantine’s death in 797.

In the face of the Saracen invasions, the monks of Saccudion abandoned their settlement for Studius where Plato vowed obedience to his nephew Theodorus, and lived as a recluse in a narrow cell, in perpetual prayer and manual labor, one foot fastened to the ground with a heavy iron chain which he hid with his cloak when anyone came to see him.

In 807, Joseph, the priest who had presided at the wedding of Constantine and Theodoat, was restored to his position and made treasurer of the church by order of emperor Nicephorus. Plato considered this scandalous, and loudly condemned it. The emperor had him guarded for a year by a troop of insolent soldiers and false monks after which Plato was unjustly condemned by a council of court bishops, then banished to be conducted from place to place in the isles of Bosphorus for four years until freed in 811 by the new emperor Michael I. Plato then returned to his cell and his life of prayer.

In 813, Plato saw that his end was near, directed his grave be dug, had himself carried to it, lived laying in it, spending his last days in prayer and receiving guests from his grave including his former enemy, the priest Joseph who came to ask for Plato’s prayers.

Born

Died

Canonized

SOURCE : https://catholicsaints.info/saint-plato/


St. Plato, Abbot

HE was born about the year 734. A pestilence that raged at Constantinople depriving him of his parents when he was no more than thirteen years of age, the care of his education devolved upon an uncle, who was high treasurer. Plato, while yet young, despatched the business of that high office for his uncle with surprising readiness and assiduity. His remarkable dexterity in writing short hand, may be reckoned among his inferior accomplishments, seeing by the daily progress he made in the more sublime parts of knowledge and religion, he far outstript all his equals in age, and went beyond the greatest expectation of his masters. These eminent qualifications, joined to his elevated birth, extensive wealth, and unblemished probity, introduced him to the notice of the great, and opened to him the highest preferments in the state. Persons in the highest stations at court wished to make him their son-in-law: but his whole heart being attached to heavenly things, he looked with contempt on the pomps and vanities of this world. Prayer and retirement were the chief objects of his delight, nor was he fond of paying any visits except to churches and monasteries. He prevailed on his three brothers to devote themselves to God and live in a state of celibacy: he made all his slaves free, and having sold his large estates, he portioned his two sisters, who, marrying, became the mothers of saints: the remainder of the purchase-money he distributed among the poor. Being thus disengaged, he bid adieu to his friends and country at twenty-four years of age. He took with him one servant as far as Bithynia, but there sent him also back, having given him all his clothes, except one coarse black suit; and in this manner he walked alone to the monastery of Symboleon, upon mount Olympus, in that country. From the moment he was admitted into that house, no one was more humble, more devout, more exact in every duty, or more obedient and mortified. The holy abbot Theoctistus, to furnish him with opportunities of heroic acts of virtue, often reproved and punished him for faults of which he was not guilty: which treatment St. Plato received with silence and joy, in patience and humility. Prayer and pious reading were the delight of his soul. In the hours allotted to labour he rejoiced to see the meanest employments assigned to him, as to make bread, water the ground, and carry dung, though his most usual province was to copy books of piety. Theoctistus dying in 770, St. Plato was chosen abbot of Symboleon, being only thirty-six years old. He had opposed his exaltation to the utmost of his power, but seeing himself compelled to take upon him that burden, he became the more humble and the more austere penitent. He never drank any thing but water; and this sometimes only once in two days: his diet was bread, beans, or herbs without oil: and this refection he never took even on Sundays before noon. He would never eat or wear anything which was not purchased by the labour of his own hands; by which he also maintained several poor. His retreat protected him from the persecution of Constantine Copronymus. The year after the death of that tyrant, in 775, St. Plato took a journey to Constantinople on business, where it is incredible with what esteem he was received, and how much he promoted piety in all ranks, states, and conditions; how successful he was in banishing habits of swearing and other vices, and inspiring both the rich and poor with the love of virtue. The patriarch, not Tarasius, as Fleury mistakes, but his predecessor, Paul, endeavoured to make him bishop of Nicomedia; but such was the saint’s humility, that he made all haste back to his desert of Symboleon. He would never take holy orders; and indeed at that time the generality of monks were laymen. The whole family of his sister Theoctista, embracing a religious state, and founding the monastery of Saccudion, near Constantinople, St. Plato was with difficulty prevailed upon to leave Symboleon, and to take upon himself the direction of this new abbey, in 782; but when he had governed it twelve years, he resigned the same to his nephew, St. Theodorus. The Emperor Constantine repudiated his empress, Mary, and took to his bed Theodota, a relation of St. Plato. The patriarch, St. Tarasius, endeavoured to reclaim him by exhortations and threats; but SS. Plato and Theodorus proceeded to publish among the monks a kind of sentence of excommunication against him. Joseph, the treasurer of the church, and several other mercenary priests and monks, endeavoured to draw over St. Plato to approve the emperor’s divorce; but he resisted their solicitations, and the emperor himself to his face, and courageously suffered imprisonment and other hardships till the death of that unhappy prince in 797. The Saracens making excursions as far as the walls of Constantinople, the monks of Saccudion abandoned their settlement, and chose that of Studius, which abbey had been almost destroyed by the persecution of Constantine Copronymus. There St. Plato vowed obedience to his nephew Theodorus, living himself a recluse in a narrow cell, in perpetual prayer and manual labour, having one foot fastened to the ground with a heavy iron chain, which he carefully hid with his cloak when any one came to see him. In 806, St. Nicephorus, a layman, though a person of great virtue, was preferred to the patriarchal dignity by the emperor of the same name. St. Plato judged the election of a neophyte irregular, and on that account opposed it. In 807 he fell under a new persecution. Joseph, the priest who had married the adulteress to the Emperor Constantine, was restored to his functions and dignity of treasurer of the church, by an order of the Emperor Nicephorus. St. Plato considered this indulgence as a scandalous enervation of the discipline of the church, and a seeming connivance at his past crimes; and loudly condemned it. The emperor, provoked at his zeal, caused him to be guarded a whole year by a troop of insolent soldiers and false monks; after which he obliged him to appear before a council of court bishops, by which he was unjustly condemned, and treated with many indignities, and at length, with the most flagrant injustice, pronounced guilty of the fictitious crimes laid to his charge; in consequence of which sentence the emperor banished him, and commanded that he should be ignominiously conducted from place to place in the isles of Bosphorus for the space of four years. Notwithstanding he was at the same time afflicted with many distempers, the saint endured the fatigues of his exile with an extraordinary degree of constancy and courage, which had such an effect on Nicephorus, that he had resolved to recal him with honour, and pay him the respect such distinguished piety merited; but, unhappily, the emperor’s being surprised and murdered by the Bulgarians, in 811, frustrated those good intentions. But his successor, Michael I., a lover of justice and virtue, immediately gave orders that St. Plato should be honourably discharged. The saint was received at Constantinople with all possible marks of respect and distinction: but privately retired to his cell. After some time, perceiving himself near his end, he directed his grave to be dug, and himself to be carried to it and laid down by it. Here he was visited by the chief persons of the city, especially by the holy patriarch, St. Nicephorus, who had satisfied him as to his conduct in receiving the priest Joseph, and who came to recommend himself to his prayers. St. Plato happily expired on the 19th of March, in 813, near the close of the seventy-ninth year of his age. His funeral obsequies were performed by the patriarch St. Nicephorus. His memory is honoured both by the Latins and Greeks on the 4th of April. Fortitude in suffering for the sake of justice, is the true test of virtue and courage; and the persecution of the saints is the glorious triumph of the cross of Christ. Humility, patience, and constancy shine principally on such occasions. Their distresses are like the shades in a fine picture, which throw a graceful light on the brighter parts of the piece, and heighten its beauties. See the life of St. Plato, by his nephew St. Theodorus the Studite. Also the Commentary and Notes of Papebroke, t. 1. Apr. p. 364. Fleury 1. 45.

Rev. Alban Butler (1711–73).  Volume IV: April. The Lives of the Saints.  1866.


Plato of Sakkudion, Abbot (RM)

Born in Constantinople, c. 734; died on March 19, 813. Saint Plato was younger than 13 when his parents were killed by a plague afflicting Constantinople. At that time, his uncle, the high treasurer of the empire, took over his education and Plato acted as his apprentice. He was accomplished at taking down business affairs in shorthand, yet even more advanced in affairs of the spirit.

Because of his high birth, virtue, and skill, he came to be regarded as a prize catch for those seeking a husband for their daughters. Plato, however, was more attracted to prayer and seclusion than marriage. He convinced his three brothers to devote themselves to God, and live in a state of celibacy. Then, seeking to free himself from worldly attachments, he freed all his slaves and sold his large estates. Before retiring to Symboleon on Mount Olympus, Bithynia, he used some of the money to obtain spouses for his two sisters--who became the mothers of saints--and distributed the rest among the poor.

Having discharged his duties, Plato bid adieu to his family, friends, and country and travelled with one servant to Bithynia (now in Turkey). There he sent his servant back to Constantinople with all his clothes except the coarse ones that he was wearing and entered the monastery Symboleon. There Plato made great progress in his spiritual growth through the practice of humility, devotion, and obedience under the guidance of the holy abbot Theoctistus.

Prayer and pious reading were the delight of his soul. In the hours allotted to labor he rejoiced to see the meanest employments assigned to him from making bread to fertilizing the fields with manure, though his skills were usually employed in copying manuscripts. When Theoctistus died in 770, the 36-year-old Plato was chosen abbot against his will. In order to ensure that such power would not corrupt him, he increased the severity of his penances: He never drank anything but water (sometimes only once in two days); his diet was bread, beans, or herbs without oil. He would never eat or wear anything which was not purchased by the labor of his own hands; by which he also maintained several poor.

After the death of the tyrant Constantine Copronymus, Saint Plato went to Constantinople on business and was received with great honor. He used this opportunity to encourage others to grow in holiness and love of virtue. The patriarch unsuccessfully tried to convince Plato to receive episcopal consecration, but Plato escaped back to his refuge at Symboleon.

In 782, his family prevailed upon him to leave Symboleon and take over the governance of Sakkudion Monastery near Constantinople, which was founded by his sister Theoctista. Her whole family embraced the religious state and it was fitting that Plato should join them. After directing Sakkudion for 12 years, he resigned in favor of his nephew, Saint Theodore Studites.

Life became difficult for Saint Plato when he opposed the actions of Emperor Constantine Porphyrogenitus, who repudiated his empress, Mary, and took to his bed Theodota, a relative of Saint Plato. Patriarch Saint Tarasius unsuccessfully threatened and exhorted the emperor against this action; Plato went further. He published a sentence of excommunication against the emperor among the monks. Joseph, the treasurer of the church, and several other mercenary priests and monks, tried to convince Plato to approve the emperor's divorce; but he resisted their solicitations and the emperor's own plea. Instead he suffered imprisonment and other hardships till the death of Constantine in 797.

When the Saracens invaded Byzantium, the monks of Sakkudion abandoned their monastery and moved to the Studium, which had been almost destroyed by the persecution of Constantine Copronymus. There Saint Plato vowed obedience to his nephew Theodore and retired to a narrow cell so that he could engage in perpetual prayer and manual labor. He chained one foot to the ground with a heavy iron chain that he carefully hid with his cloak when anyone came to see him.

When Saint Nicephorus, a layman of great virtue, was appointed patriarch of Constantinople in 806, Saint Plato opposed it because of the irregularity of naming a layman as bishop. Opposition to Plato increased when, in 807, Emperor Nicephorus appointed Joseph, the priest who had married the adulteress to the emperor Constantine, was restored his position as treasurer of the church. Plato loudly condemned the emperor's action as contrary to the discipline of the church. The emperor retaliated by placing him under house arrest for a year, before calling him to account at a council of court bishops. Then he was unjustly convicted of fictitious crimes and sentenced to banishment on an island in the Bosphorus for four years.

Although the repentant emperor died before mitigating Plato's sentence, his successor, Michael I, immediately restored the saint to grace and received him with great respect. Plato retired again to his cell and perceiving that he was near death, he asked that his grave to be dug, and himself to be carried to it and laid down by it. Here he was visited by Constantinople's dignitaries, including Patriarch Saint Nicephorus, who had been reconciled to Plato and who performed his funeral rites. Plato's vita was written by his nephew, Saint Theodore (Benedictines, Encyclopedia, Husenbeth).

San Platone Abate in Bitinia

4 aprile

Costantinopoli, 740 circa – Studion, 4 aprile 814

Martirologio Romano: A Costantinopoli, san Platone, egúmeno, che combattè a lungo con invitto animo contro i nemici delle sacre immagini e insieme al nipote Teodosio riordinò il celebre monastero di Studio.

San Platone fu nel Medioevo uno dei monaci che diedero maggior lustro al Monte Olimpo, presso Brussa, ma fu anche perseguitato per la sua ortodossia in materia di fede e per la sua fedeltà alle norme ecclesiastiche. Nato a Costantinopoli verso il 740 da una ricca e celebre famiglia, rimase orfano a soli sette anni in seguito ad un’epidemia di peste. Fu allora educato da uno zio, tesoriere-pagatore imperiale, grazie al quale acquisì un’eccellente formazione intellettuale e religiosa. Raggiunta l’età adulta, Platune vendette tutti i suoi beni distribuendo ai poveri il ricavato, per poi dirigersi verso il Monte Olimpo e farsi monaco nel convento dei Simboli, del quale divenne anche egumeno.

I parenti non avevano piò avuto sue notizie e lo credevano ormai morto, ma verso l’anno 780 ricomparve inaspettatamente a Costantinopoli ove fu accolto dal nipote San Teodoro Studita, figlio di sua sorella Teoctista. Il suo aspetto ascetico emanò una potente forza di attrazione verso tutti coloro che incontrava e parecchie furono le conversioni ad una vita cristiana. L’intera sua famiglia abbracciò la vita monastica, in primis i genitori Fotino e Teoctista. Platone divenne anche consigliere del nipote San Teodoro e sotto la loro guida i monaci presero a dedicare allo studio delle Scienze tutto il tempo libero. La vita monastica fu riformata secondo i principi di San Basilio, improntata ad una maggiore sobrietà, e questa riforma fu adottata anche da numerosi monasteri vicini. Viste le peculiari qualità di Teodoro, tra il 787 ed il 788 Platone volle fargli conferire l’ordinazione presbiterale dal patriarca Tarasio e dal 794, per l’aggravarsi della sua salute, all’unanimità lo fece eleggere nuovo egumeno.

L’anno seguente si affacciò però un nuovo problema nella cristianità bizantina: il giovane imperatore Costantino VI, figlio di Irene, ripudiò con falsi pretesti la sua moglie legittima Maria d’Armenia per convolare a nozze con Teodota, dama d’onore di sua madre, parente prossima di Platone e Teodoro. Il patriarca Tarasio rifiutò fermamente di sciogliere senza valido motivo il matrimonio dell’imperatore, ma questi minacciò una nuova persecuzione iconoclasta. Un sacerdote benedisse di sua iniziativa il secondo matrimonio ed il patriarca non osò opporsi, ma una restistenza giunse comunque da Platone e Teodoro, parenti dell’imperatrice adultera. Costantino VI allora li fece imprigionare, il monastero di Saccoudion fu saccheggiato e la comunità religiosa sciolta. Pochi mesi dopo una congiura di palazzo detronizzò l’imperatore, Platone e Teodoro furono liberati ed Irene fece accecare l’augusto figlio causandone in breve tempo la morte.

I monaci poterono tornare a Saccoudion, ma un’invasione araba ben presto li cotrinse a trovare rifugio nella capitale. Qui l’imperatrice Irene donò loro il vecchio monastero fondato nel 462 dal senatore Studius e devastato dalla recente persecuzione iconoclasta. San Teodoro, detto poi “Studita”, ne divenne egumeno e con la collaborazione di Platone fece dei ruderi ricevuti in dono un grande centro al tempo stesso religioso e culturale. I due si dedicarono anche in prima persona all’attività di copiatura di manoscritti.

La vita della comunità era però destinata a subire nuovi traumi: nell’806 alla morte di Tarasio, l’imperatore Niceforo volle imporre un suo candidato alla successione della carica patriarcale e fece riabilitare il prete Giuseppe. Queste ad altre sue discutibili iniziative in ambito ecclesiastico fecero insorgere Platone e Teodoro, che due anni dopo furono imprigionati e poi esiliati. Dopo tre anni di dura sopravvivenza, nell’811 l’imperatore morì in battaglia e Platone poté tornare a Studion, ove morì il 4 aprile 814 all’età di circa sessantacinque anni. Poco dopo si scatenò per mano dell’imperatore Leone V l’Armeno una nuova persecuzione iconoclasta di cui rimasero vittime San Teodoro e numerosi suoi monaci.

Autore: Fabio Arduino

SOURCE : http://www.santiebeati.it/dettaglio/48475

San PLATÓN. M. 813.

Ancho de hombros. 


Martirologio Romano: En Constantinopla, san Platón, abad, que durante muchos años luchó con ánimo invicto contra los destructores de las sagradas imágenes, y con su sobrino Teodosio organizó el célebre monasterio de Studión.

Parece que nació en Constantinopla y se dice que estaba emparentado con los emperadores de Bizancio. En tiempo del emperador Constantino Coprónimo estudió y se estableció como notario. Renunció a sus 20 años a los más altos cargos de gobierno y se hizo monje en el monasterio de los Símbolos, bajo la obediencia del hegúmeno (abad) Teocisto; para ello superó todas las pruebas que se le sometió para su ingreso. 

 Como monje se dedicó a la copia de manuscritos. Gobernó durante el decenio del 770, el monasterio del Símbolo en el monte Olimpo como hegúmeno. Asistió al concilio convocado en Constantinopla el año 786 y allí se enfrentó valerosamente a los iconoclastas. Habiendo sido nombrado él, abad del monasterio de Sakkudión, no tuvo ningún reparo en reprender al emperador Constantino por su adulterio y malos ejemplos, por lo que fue desterrado. 

 Al ser destituido el emperador dos años más tarde, volvió del destierro, Cuando recobró la libertad, los monjes de Sakkudión habían tenido que ir a refugiarse en el monasterio de Studios, huyendo de los sarracenos. Allá fue a reunirse con ellos san Platón, quien se puso bajo las órdenes de su sobrino Teodoro. Vivía en una celda alejada de las demás y pasaba el tiempo en la oración y el trabajo manual; pero chocó de nuevo con su sucesor, el emperador Nicéforo, por no querer votar a favor de la vuelta al patriarcado del excomulgado Josefo, el emperador Nicéforo le desterró a las islas del Bósforo. Durante cuatro años soportó con ejemplar paciencia que le trasladasen constantemente de una isla a otra. Finalmente, en 811, el emperador Miguel I le puso en libertad. Quisieron nombrarle obispo de Nicomedia pero no aceptó, ya que como monje tampoco había aceptado por humildad, el sacerdocio. Se enfrentó a la corrupción, ya sea política, moral o religiosa.

San Platón fue recibido en Constantinopla con muestras de gran respeto. El resto de su vida lo pasó postrado en cama. Fue a visitarle a su retiro el patriarca san Nicéforo, a cuya elección se había opuesto antes, para encomendarse a sus oraciones. San Platón murió el 4 de abril del año 814; san Teodoro pronunció su oración fúnebre. 

SOURCE : http://hagiopedia.blogspot.com/2013/04/san-platon-m-813.html