Nicholas II of Constantinople

Nicholas II of Constantinople (Greek: Νικόλαος Χρυσοβέργης;^[a] died 16 December 991) was Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople^[1][2] from 980 to 991.

Saint Nicholas II of Constantinople
Seal of Nicholas II of Constantinople
Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople
Died	16 December 991 Constantinople
Venerated in	Orthodox Church, Catholic Church
Feast	16 December

Saint Nicholas II of Constantinople
Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople
Installed	April 980
Term ended	16 December 991
Predecessor	Anthony III of Constantinople
Successor	Sisinnius II of Constantinople
Personal details
Denomination	Eastern Orthodox, Chalcedonian Christianity

Life

In 980, during the reign of Emperor Basil II, when Nicholas II was Ecumenical Patriarch, the Archangel Gabriel was believed to have appeared in the guise of a monk to the disciple of a certain monk at the Monastery of the Pantocrator in Mount Athos. The monk reported that the angel sang a new verse of the matins hymn, recorded on a slate still held at the monastery. Nicholas II received the relic in the cathedral of Hagia Sophia. The Axion Estin is still sung in Orthodox services.

Nicholas II's tenure also saw the completion of the Christianisation of Kievan Rus' and the appointment of the first metropolitan for Rus', Michael I of Kiev.

Patriarch Nicholas II was later canonised and is commemorated by both the Catholic Church and the Eastern Orthodox Church on 16 December.