The Walling-off of Saint Raphael

In December of 1452, while the Protosyncellus Father Raphael and his Deacon Nicholas were in Constantinople, Emperor Constantine organized an official concelebration in the Church of Hagia Sophia with the Pope’s representative, Cardinal Isidore, as part of the unionist policy he was implementing, under the illusion that Constantinople would be saved from the suffocating Turkish encirclement with the help of the Pope. On December 12, 1452, the feast day of Saint Spyridon, this concelebration took place. However, Protosyncellus Raphael did not want to attend, nor did he allow his Deacon to go. He knew very well that this would be a betrayal of the Faith. “No, not that far. Contact, yes; help, yes; concelebration with the papists—never!” said the Saint. The Emperor became very angry and punished them with temporary exile to Ainos. For this reason, Saint Raphael is also called a confessor, because he abandoned the honors and glories of his office and did not count the cost of opposing the emperor in order to defend the truth of Orthodoxy against the heresy of Papism.

Greek source: https://apotixisi.blogspot.com/2025/04/blog-post_22.html

See also: https://agiosrafael.gr/index.php/en/40-dimosievmena-arthra/orthodoksi-pisti/210-saint-raphael-and-the-unification-joint-liturgy-in-hagia-sophia-of-constantinople