Venerable (Monastic)8th century

Venerable Prokopios the Confessor of Decapolis

8th century (reposed c. 750)

Also known as Procopius of Decapolis

A monk of the Decapolis who defended the veneration of the holy icons during the iconoclast persecution, suffering imprisonment and torture for the Orthodox faith. He reposed in peace after the triumph of Orthodoxy.

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Commemorated as

Our Venerable Father Prokopios the Confessor of Decapolis

Life

Prokopios the Confessor was an eighth-century monk of the Decapolis, the region east of the Sea of Galilee. Tonsured in a monastery, he devoted himself to a life of prayer and fasting and came to be esteemed for his virtue and purity of soul.

When the iconoclast persecution arose under the emperor Leo the Isaurian, Prokopios stood among those who defended the veneration of the holy icons. He suffered imprisonment and bodily torment for this confession, was released after the emperor's death, and spent his remaining years guiding others in the Orthodox faith before reposing in old age. He is commemorated on February 27.

Kontakion & Troparion2 hymnsReadHide

KontakionTone 4

(Special Melody: “You appeared today...”) O most glorious Prokopios,
initiate of heavenly Mysteries,
the Church honors you today as a morning star which dispels all the gloom of heresy.

Text used with permission of the Orthodox Church in America (oca.org).

TroparionTone 1

(Podoben: “O citizen of the desert...”) Having advanced in asceticism, O Father Prokopios,
you went from strength to strength.
By venerating the icon of Christ, you were shown as one comparable to the Martyrs.
With them, intercede for those who cry to you:
“Glory to Him Who has strengthened you.
Glory to Him Who has crowned you.
Glory to Him, Who through you, works healings for all.”

Text used with permission of the Orthodox Church in America (oca.org).

Timeline4 momentsReadHide

8th centuryMonastic tonsure in the DecapolisProkopios was tonsured in a monastery in the Decapolis, the region lying east of the Sea of Galilee, where he gave himself to prayer and fasting.
during the reign of Leo the Isaurian (717-741)Confession against iconoclasmUnder the emperor Leo the Isaurian, who regarded the holy icons as idols, Prokopios defended their veneration, teaching that Orthodox Christians do not worship icons but venerate them, and that the honor passes to the prototype. He was arrested and imprisoned together with his fellow monk Basil.
after 741Release and later lifeFollowing the death of the emperor, the confessors were set free. Prokopios passed the remainder of his life in peace, instructing many in virtue and the Orthodox faith.
c. 750ReposeProkopios reposed at an advanced age, around the year 750.

Contributions & Legacy

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The iconoclast persecution

Prokopios lived during the first phase of the Byzantine iconoclast controversy, when the emperor Leo III the Isaurian (reigned 717-741) condemned the veneration of icons and a persecution arose against those who honored them. Against this policy Prokopios defended the Orthodox distinction between worship, which belongs to God alone, and the veneration shown to icons, which passes to the person represented.

According to the synaxarion, he was arrested at the emperor's command and subjected to harsh torments, being flogged, beaten with rods, and raked with iron claws before being cast into prison. He endured this confinement until the emperor's death, after which he and his companions were released.

Companion in confession

Prokopios shared his sufferings with a fellow monk, Saint Basil the Confessor, his co-struggler in the monastic life, who is commemorated the following day, February 28. The two were imprisoned together throughout the persecution and were freed together upon the emperor's death, after which both continued their monastic labors and instructed many in the Orthodox faith. Basil reposed in peace around the year 750.

Companions1 figureShowHide

Co-struggler: fellow monk imprisoned with Prokopios throughout the iconoclast persecution and freed with him; commemorated February 28.

Venerable Basilthe Confessor

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Sources: OCA Synaxarion (oca.org), Lives of the Saints