St. Mark of Ephesus
St. Mark Eugenikos (c. 1392-1444) was Metropolitan of Ephesus and the leading Orthodox theologian at the Council of Ferrara-Florence (1438-1439), where he alone among the Greek delegates refused to sign the union with Rome, rejecting its compromises on the procession of the Holy Spirit, purgatory, and papal primacy.
When pressured by his own delegation, he declared that there can be no compromise in matters of the Orthodox Faith, and upon returning to Constantinople he led the faithful in rejecting the false union until his repose on June 23, 1444. Honored together with St. Photios the Great and St. Gregory Palamas as a Pillar of Orthodoxy, he is commemorated on January 19, the day his relics were transferred.
There can be no compromise in matters of the Orthodox Faith.
That which concerns the Church is never put right through compromises: there is no mean between Truth and falsehood.
It is impossible to recall peace without dissolving the cause of the schism: the primacy of the Pope exalting himself equal to God.
Stand aright, hold firmly to the traditions which you have received, both written and by word of mouth, that you be not deprived of your firmness if you become led away by the delusions of the lawless.
We seek and we pray for our return to that time when, being united, we spoke the same things and there was no schism between us.
Troparion
By your profession of faith, O all-praised Mark, the Church has found you to be a zealot for truth. You fought for the teaching of the Fathers; you cast down the darkness of boastful pride. Intercede with Christ God to grant forgiveness to those who honor you!
Kontakion
Clothed with invincible armor, O blessed one, you cast down rebellious pride, you served as the instrument of the Comforter, and shone forth as the champion of Orthodoxy. Therefore we cry to you: Rejoice, Mark, the boast of the Orthodox!
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