Anastasius (5)

Anastasius patriarch OF CONSTANTINOPLE, was promoted by the influence of the emperor Leo Isaurus after the abdication or deposition of Germanus. According to one account, force was employed by the emperor to intimidate those who opposed the election; and when the populace, headed by some nuns, rioted against the new patriarch for removing an image of Christ from the palace, the ringleaders were executed. Anastasius favored the iconoclasts, which led to his excommunication by Gregory III. He was very complaisant to Artabasdus when he seized the throne; for which he was most ignominiously punished on the return to power of Constantius.

He was, however, allowed, in mockery, to retain his see, and died in 753. By some chronologies he was made patriarch in 728.