Council of the Church Fathers

The emergence of the common image of three Church Fathers in the iconography of Eastern Christianity is linked to a miraculous revelation experienced in 1084 by Metropolitan John of Euchaita in Asia Minor (Pontos, now Turkey) ruled by the Byzantine Emperor Alexios I Komnenos. Basil the Great (329–379) born in Cappadocia, Gregory the Theologian (ca. 326–390) and John Chrysostom born in Antiochia (350–407) commanded that they be worshipped equally. Fervent disputes took place in Constantinople between supporters of primacy, and therefore supremacy, of the in the cult of of individual fathers, i.e. Basilians, Gregorians and Joannites. Considering the Church Fathers to be equal before God as a result of the miraculous vision of Metropolitan John of Euchaita, the celebration of their common feast was established on 30 January according to the Julian calendar (12 February according to the Gregorian calendar). The Church Fathers are depicted full length in episcopal robes. Usually the central place is taken by John Chrysostom, but this is not the rule, as can be seen in the exhibited icon.

Teresa Bagińska-Żurawska https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9243-3967