1. Biographical information
Constantine the Jew was born in Synada in Phrygia most probably in the second quarter of the 9th century.1
In a young age, around the middle of the 9th century, was baptised by the abbot of the monastery of Phlouboute, near Nicaea. There he was ordained priest and remained for approximately twelve years. Then, he put his efforts to the conversion of Jews in the wider area of Nicaea but,2 after receiving threats from the Jewish community, he left for Olympus of Bithynia with the wish to lead a monastic life. There he contacted many monks and priests of the area and gathered around him a small number of novices and young monks.
Between the years 883-886 he travelled to Constantinople, met the emperor Basil I and made efforts to reconcile him with his son Leo, the future emperor Leo VI (886-912), who was accused for conspiracy. Later he visited Myra in Lycia, he traveled as a pilgrim in Cyprus and through Attaleia he returned to Olympos. There he was ordained presbyteros, remained for a period of time in the monastery of Atroa and later he went to the monastery of Volios. He died on December 26th of some year after 896. After his death, Constantine the Jew, as he was widely known, was proclaimed a saint. His memory is celebrated by the Orthodox Church on 26 December.
2. The "life" of saint Constantine the Jew
The "Vita" of saint Constantine the Jew was written during the reign of Leo VI the Wise (886-912) by an unknown monk in the area of Nicaea. The hagiographer testifies that Constantine exercised the profession of Apostle Paul, he was a leather tent maker. He also mentions that he made miracles and was very insightful. This hagiographic text is a valuable historical source for the political events of that era and provides information about the imprisonment of Leo VI. It also provides a lot of information on the Jews in Byzantium and the development of the Jewish communities in the wider area of Nicaea.
1. Οι βασικικές πληροφορίες για τον Κωνσταντίνο τον εξ Ιουδαιων προέρχονται από τον Βίο του, βλ. Βίος του οσίου πατρός ημών Κωνσταντίνου του εξ Ιουδαίων, εκδ. H. Delehaye, AASS, Nov. 4 (Brussels 1925) σελ. 628-656. Μετάφραση μέρους του κειμένο στα αγγλικά βλ. Starr, J., The Jews in Byzantine Empire, 641-1204 (Berlin - Athens 1939) σελ. 119-22.
2. Janin, R., Les Églises et les Monastères des Grands Centres Byzantins , στο La Géographie Ecclésiastique de l’ Empire Byzantin (Paris 1975) σελ. 121, 124-5. Επίσης βλ. Menthon, B., Une terre de légendes. L’ Olympe de Bithynie: Ses Saints, Ses Couvents, Ses Sites (Paris 1935) σελ. 126-35.