Hierarch Philotheus Kokkinos, Patriarch of Constantinople

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St. Philotheus (baptized Phokas), surnamed Kokkinos, was born c. 1300 in Thessalonica, son of a Jewish convert to Christianity, and educated under Thomas Magistros. He became a monk on Mount Sinai and later on Mount Athos, professed first at Vatopedi and then at the Great Lavra, where he grew close to St. Gregory Palamas — later writing his biography. He was abbot of the Great Lavra from 1344 and Metropolitan of Heraclea in Thrace from 1347.

A leading Hesychast theologian, he helped draft the Hagioritic Tome (1340) and played a central role at the 1351 council that defined the doctrine of the uncreated divine energies. He served twice as Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople (1353–1354 and 1364–1376). At the 1368 synod he secured the formal canonization of St. Gregory Palamas and composed his liturgical service. He compiled an influential liturgical Diataxis that became standard across the Byzantine Church.

He was deeply involved in Russian church affairs: in 1354 he confirmed St. Alexis as Metropolitan of Kiev and All Russia; around 1372 he sent St. Sergius of Radonezh a letter of blessing and gifts (a paramandion, schema, and reliquary cross still kept at the Trinity-Sergius Lavra), urging him to adopt the cenobitic rule; in 1375 he consecrated Cyprian as Metropolitan of Kiev. Deposed in 1376, he died in 1379; his relics rest in the Cathedral of St. Gregory Palamas in Thessaloniki.