Germanos 8 was the patriarch of Constantinople from 715 to 730.

The future patriarch, Germanos 8 was the son of the patrikios Ioustinianos 3; after his father was executed for his part in the murder of the emperor Constans II (Konstans 1), Germanos 8, although already a young man and older than the normal age for such operations, was castrated by Constantine IV (Konstantinos 2): Zon. XIV 20. 2-3 (ἤδη παρηβηκότα καὶ ὑπερβεβηκότα τὴν ἡλικίαν, καθ' ἣν εὐνουχίζεσθαι δεδοκίμασται), cf. 27. 2. Said to have been dedicated to God from infancy and to have grown up among the Scriptures (Γερμάνου μὲν τοῦ ἐν τοῖς ἱεροῖς γράμμασιν ἀνατεθραμμένου καὶ ὡς Σαμουὴλ ἐκ βρέφους τῷ θεῷ ἀνατεθειμένου, καὶ τῶν θεσπεσίων πατέρων ἐφαμίλλου), Germanos 8 became a champion of Orthodoxy whose writings were read everywhere: Mansi XIII 356-357.

Metropolitan of Kyzikos, in 712 Germanos 8 attended the Council called by the emperor Philippikos 1 against the Sixth Ecumenical Council and subscribed its condemnation of that Council's decisions, giving his support to monotheletism: Theoph. AM 6177 (Γερμανὸν μητροπολίτην Κυζίκου), AM 6204, Nic. Brev. de Boor 48, Mango 46. When the patriarch of Constantinople, Ioannes 4, died in 715, Germanos 8 was transferred from Kyzikos and became patriarch of Constantinople himself: Theoph. AM 6177 (Γερμανὸν ἀπὸ Κυζίκου, καὶ πατριαρχῆσαι Κωνσταντινουπόλεως), Theoph. AM 6204 (Γερμανόν τε τὸν μετὰ ταῦτα τὸν θρόνον Κωνσταντινουπόλεως κατασχόντα), Theoph. AM 6207 (μετετέθη Γερμανὸς ἀπὸ τῆς μητροπόλεως Κυζίκου εἰς Κωνσταντινούπολιν), Zon. XIV 27.2 (μετατίθησιν ἐκ Κυζίκου ἐπὶ τὴν ἱερὰν καθέδραν τῆς βασιλίδος τῶν πόλεων Γερμανόν), Vita Steph. Iun. 93, 9-12 (1076D), Nic. Brev. de Boor 51, 56-57, 58, 66, Mango 51, 58, 62, 72, Nic., Chron., p. 119, 72 (Γερμανὸς ἐπίσκοπος Κυζίκου καὶ ὁμολογητής, in a list of the patriarchs of Constantinople). He was consecrated on 11 August 715: Theoph. AM 6207, cf. Vita Steph. Iun. 93, 15-94, 26 (1077A-D) (the parents of Stephen (Stephanos 2) attended the consecration in Hagia Sophia).

Germanos 8 is said to have baptised the future saint Stephen the Younger (Stephanos 2) on Holy Saturday 716: Vita Steph. Iun. 96, 1-14 (1080C-D). In 715 he was sent with officials from Constantinople to inform Anastasios 6 that the city was in the hands of the rebel Theodosios 2: Nic. Brev. de Boor 51 Mango 51, Theoph. AM 6207, Zon. XIV 27. 13. A peace treaty was negotiated with the Bulgars under Kormesios 1 (according to Theophanes, but the Bulgar ruler at this date was in fact Tervel 1) in the time of Theodosios III (Theodosios 2) and Germanos 8, which is recalled in Theoph. AM 6305 and Zon. XV 17. 14. On 25 December 718, Germanos 8 baptised Konstantinos 7 (the future emperor Constantine V) in Hagia Sophia in the presence of the emperor Leo III (Leo 3) and the new empress Maria (Maria 3): Theoph. AM 6211, Zon. XV 2.13-14. At Easter 720 (31 March) he attended the coronation of Leo III's son, Constantine (Konstantinos 7): Nic. Brev. de Boor 56-57, Mango 58, Theoph. AM 6212, Zon. XV 2. 20, and cf. Rochow, Theophanes, p. 103.

From c. 727 onwards Germanos 8 came under increasing pressure from the emperor because of his refusal to accept the emperor's iconoclast policies: Theoph. AM 6218. Described as an orthodox interpreter of the teachings of the Church: Vita Steph. Iun. 93, 9-10 (1077A-D). At first Leo 3 treated him respectfully: Vita Steph. Iun. 98, 21-22 (1084B). Later Germanos spoke out forcefully in opposition to the iconoclast opinions of Leo 3: Steph. Diac., Vita Steph. Iun. 99, 6-100, 4 (1084C-1085B). In 730 he refused to accept the iconoclast policies of the emperor Leo III (Leo 3) without the sanction of an ecumenical council and at a special silentium which met on 17 January (not 7 January as in Theophanes, see Rochow, Theophanes, pp. 126-128; this is confirmed by the length of his service, cf. below) in the tribunal of the Nineteen Akkoubita he resigned his post; he retired to his ancestral home at Platanion (εἰς τὸν πατρικὸν οἶκον γενόμενος: Nic.; ἀπελθὼν ἐν τῷ λεγομένῳ Πλατανίῳ εἰς τὸν γονικὸν αὐτοῦ οἶκον: Theoph.) and lived there until his death: Nic. Brev. de Boor 58, Mango 62, Theoph. AM 6221, cf. Zon. XV 2. 22-26. He was patriarch of Constantinople for fifteen years and was then expelled by the emperor Leo the Isaurian (Leo III, Leo 3): Nic., Chron., p. 119, 72. He was allegedly threatened by armed men and withdrew from his see to take up the life of a monk: Vita Steph. Iun. 100, 7-9 (1085B) (on the chronology: see Auzépy, n. 70).

Germanos 8 refused to accept the emperor's views on icons and was removed from office; his successor was Anastasios 2: Lib. Pont. 91. 24, Paul. Diac., Hist. Lang. VI 49. Said to have convicted the emperor of error but not to have succeeded in changing his mind: Vita Steph. Iun. 119, 11-12 (1109C). Germanos 8 was succeeded by Anastasios 2: Vita Steph. Iun. 100, 13-16 (1085C). Details of these events were recorded in the writings of Germanos himself, see Nic., Apol. Min. 3 (836B-C). He was persecuted by the emperor Constantine (sic) for venerating icons and was dismissed: Passio Theodosiae 3. Deposed by the emperor Leo III (Leo 3): Constantinus of Tios, Translatio Euphemiae 2, pp. 85ff. Patriarch of Constantinople, he was exiled to the monastery of the Chora by the emperor Leo III (Leo 3): Vita Mich. Sync. 28. He died in this monastery and his relics remained there (in c. 845): Vita Mich. Sync. 29. He was patriarch of Constantinople (ἀρχιερατεύσας) for fourteen years five months and seven days: Theoph. AM 6221, cf. Zon. XV 2. 26 (ἔτη ταύτην ἰθύναντα πεντεκαίδεκα). He was succeeded (on 22 January 730) by his synkellos Anastasios 2: Theoph. AM 6221, cf. Theoph. AM 6177 (in the thirteenth year of the emperor Leo (730) he was exiled and succeeded by Anastasios 2), Zon. XV 2.26 and 5.22-23.

Germanos 8 was anathematised with Georgios 5 and Mansour (i.e. John of Damascus, Ioannes 11) by the iconoclast Council of Hieria in 754: Mansi XIII 356 (citing the proceedings at Hieria; Γερμάνου, Γεωργίου καὶ Μανσοὺρ τῶν κακοδόξων φρόνημα ὑμεῖς διελύσατε; Γερμάνῳ τῷ διγνώμῳ καὶ ξυλολάτρῃ ἀνάθεμα), Nic. Brev. de Boor 66, Mango 72, Theoph. AM 6245, Zon. XV 6. 12, Vita Steph. Iun. 127, 20-22 (1121A), cf. Chron. 1234, §183 (p. 337) ("they anathematised Sergios and Ioannis son of Mansur and George the Damascene"; this source is clearly confused, cf. Ioannes 11 and Georgios 5, and the name Sergios should be Germanos). He was regarded as the champion at Constantinople of those who opposed the iconoclast policies of Leo III (Leo 3): Theoph. AM 6221 (πρόμαχος τῶν ὓπερ εὐσεβείας δογμάτων ὁ ἵερος οὗτος καὶ θεσπέσιος ἤκμαζε Γερμανὸς θηριομάχων πρὸς τὸν φερώνυμον Λέοντα καὶ τοὺς αὐτοῦ συνασπιστάς). He was patriarch of Constantinople before Tarasios 1; there were three other patriarchs between them, all heretics: Theod. Stud., Ep. 52. Named with Tarasios 1 and Nikephoros 2 by an iconoclast crowd in early 815 reviling the patriarch Nikephoros 2: Scriptor Incertus 358. An enemy of iconoclasts, whom he compared to those who had demanded the crucifixion of Christ: Vita Steph. Iun. 159, 21-22 (1161D-1164A). He was included among the patriarchs of Constantinople acclaimed for their support of icons in the Synodikon of Orthodoxy: Gouillard, "Synodikon", p. 51, line 110, p. 53, lines 114-115, p. 103, line 881.

Germanos 8 is said to have ordained Stephen of Sougdaia (Stephanos 34) as deacon and priest and later to have consecrated him as bishop of Sougdaia (Suroz): Vita Steph. Sugd. Slav. 7-11, pp. 81-83, Vita Steph. Sugd. Armen. 866-867.

Three letters from Germanos 8, all relating to the origins of the iconoclast controversy, were read out at the fourth session of the Seventh Ecumenical Council (the Second Council of Nikaia) in 787: Mansi XIII 100-128. In the first, addressed to the bishop of Synnada, Ioannes 138, the patriarch set out the arguments which he had used to explain and justify the veneration of icons to the bishop of Nakoleia, Konstantinos 73; the Council, through Tarasios, declared his views in harmony with those of the Fathers of the Church: Mansi XIII 100-105 (Γερμανοῦ τοῦ μακαριωτάτου πατριαρχοῦ γενομένου Κωνσταντινουπόλεως: XIII 100). A letter addressed to Konstantinos 73 was then read out, in which the patriarch recalled his former correspondence with the bishop in which he had defended the veneration of icons and then he criticised the bishop for failing to send it to his metropolitan, who was the bishop of Synnada, Ioannes 138: Mansi XIII 105 (τοῦ ἐν ἁγίοις πατρὸς ἡμῶν Γερμανοῦ). A third letter was read out, addressed to the bishop of Klaudiopolis, Thomas 14: Mansi XIII 108-128 (XIII 108 Γερμανοῦ ἀρχιεπισκόπου Κωνσταντινουπόλεως). At the seventh session of the Council Germanos 8 was acclaimed for his orthodoxy: Mansi XIII 400 (Γερμανοῦ τοῦ ὀρθοδόξου αἰωνία ἡ μνήμη).

On his later years, cf. Lamza, Patriarch Germanus I (see below), pp. 173-179. See also Rochow, Theophanes, pp. 124-129.

Germanikios (sic) was bishop of Kyzikos when he became Chalcedonian patriarch of Constantinople; he was deposed some years later as a follower of Mani: Mich. Syr. II 482. He crowned Konstantinos 7 after his marriage to the daughter of the Khazar khagan: Mich. Syr. II 501. He was expelled from his see by Konstantinos 7 (in fact by Leo 3) and was succeeded by Anastasios 2: Mich. Syr. II 511.

The works (letters, sermons, etc.) of the patriarch Germanos 8 are listed at Beck, Kirche, p. 475. A Book of Dreams survives, attributed to him (wrongly) in the manuscripts; see H. Drexl, "Das Traumbuch des Patriarchen Germanos", Laographia 7 (1923), pp. 428-488; with Beck, Volksliteratur, p. 204. See also L. Lamza, Patriarch Germanus I. von Konstantinopel (715-730). Versuch einer endgültigen chronologischen Fixierung des Lebens und Wirkens des Patriarchen. Mit dem griechisch-deutschen Text der Vita Germani am Schluss der Arbeit, Das östliche Christentum 27 (Würzburg, 1975).

For further references, see Life of Germanos: BHG 697, 697e; Synax. Eccl. Const. (12 May) 677, 20-680, 5; 677/678, 31-56; with 261, 26; 392, 12; 828, 28; 879, 2; 680, 4; and Typicon Mateos 290 (12 May) and Catal. Patr. 290, 7ff.

(Publishable link for this person: )