John VIII of Constantinople

John VIII of Constantinople (Greek: Ἰωάννης Ξιφιλῖνος; c. 1010 – 2 August 1075), a native of Trebizond, was a Byzantine intellectual,^[1] jurist,^[1] and Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople from 1064 to 1075. He was the uncle of John Xiphilinus, the Epimator. He is considered "an innovator in the field of the methodology of jurisprudential research".^[2]

Saint John VIII of Constantinople
Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople
Seal of John VIII, Patriarch of Constantinople, in lead, 1064-1075
Church	Eastern Orthodox Church
In office	1 January 1064 – 2 August 1075
Predecessor	Constantine III of Constantinople
Successor	Cosmas I of Constantinople
Personal details
Born	John Xiphilinos c. 1010 Trebizond (modern-day Trabzon, Turkey)
Died	2 August 1075 Constantinople
Education	University of Constantinople
Sainthood
Feast day	30 August
Venerated in	Eastern Orthodoxy
Philosophical work
Institutions	University of Constantinople
Notable students	Michael Psellus
Main interests	Jurisprudence

Early career

John was born in Trebizond to the Xiphilinos family. He pursued studies at the University of Constantinople and eventually became nomophylax of its School of Law. Later he became a monk and was eventually selected by Emperor Constantine X Doukas (1059–1067) to succeed Constantine III of Constantinople as the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople.

Episcopacy

In 1072, John VIII presided over an assembly of metropolitans and archbishops at the oratory of Saint Alexius in which the question of the election of bishops to vacant sees was discussed. Michael I of Constantinople had forbidden metropolitans who were resident in Constantinople from participating in such elections. John, however, recognised that metropolitans sometimes had to remain for a long period in the capital due to ecclesiastical business or illness. The assembly with John's consent decreed that metropolitans who gave the patriarch advance notification of their intent could again vote while resident in Constantinople.^[3] After his death, his remains were buried at the monastery of Angourion on 2 August 1075.^[4]

John VIII wrote a hagiography of Saint Eugenios of Trebizond.^[5]

John VIII has been canonised in the Eastern Orthodox Church and his feast day is celebrated on 30 August.