This Persian invasion is not mentioned by Saint Nikodemos in his Synaxaristes for August 7th, but several Codices do. Here we quote exactly what is written in the Great Lavra Codex I 73.
On this day [August 7th], we commemorate the beyond all words and beyond all hope gift of perfect help granted to us by Christ our true God against the impious enemies surrounding us from all directions, both by land and sea, through our All-Holy and Immaculate Lady the Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary who bore Him without seed, interceding for the salvation of this God-protected and royal city.
This occurred during the times of Emperor Heraclius, when Khosrow, the king of the Persians, sent forth his general Shahrbaraz to this God-protected city with heavy forces, who, having plundered all the East, captured the strait at Chalcedon, expecting a great haul from the cities. Seeing this, Heraclius crossed into the land of the Persians via the Black Sea, achieving more there than the Persians had accomplished in crossing Roman territory, leaving behind his sons here with Patriarch Sergius and the marvelous Bonos.
The Khagan, the leader of the Avars, having gathered a multitude from neighboring nations, attacked Constantinople by land and sea. From the east came the Scythians, and the city was surrounded on all sides, hoping to seize it, although this city boasts of the cross and the passions of Christ and has been granted as a gift from Him to the Theotokos.
Thus, in every aspect of the siege and the battle at the walls, whether in action or in contemplation, they were more barbaric, yet courageously opposing. Bonos encouraged them in battle, and there were many casualties on both sides. Thus, after they attacked three or four times and remained thwarted thanks to the alliance of the Theotokos, they became even more enraged. The residents of the city, perceiving the situation, sent envoys to the Khagan, requesting peace in exchange for a large sum of money. However, he, miserly in heart and demeanor, accepted the money and sent the ambassadors back without any agreement, stating: "Tomorrow I will seize your city with my own hand like a bird's nest, and I will allow you to escape only in your tunic, as I shall show you no other philanthropy," after having previously blasphemed Christ, our God, and the One who bore Him.
Hearing this, the inhabitants of the city, priests and laity, were summoned to the holy temples, raising their hands to heaven and saying: "Lord, from Your holy abode, behold the unclean Khagan and all that he dares to do, and overcome him, You, who are our defender, so that they will not say: 'Where is their God?'"
They prayed with tears, while others fought on land and at sea, when the Lord, who had been blasphemed by them, sent winds and storms upon the sea, destroying the Scythian ships and instilling courage in the besieged and fear in the barbarians, who perpetrated a massacre that is beyond measure.
This occurred without the Persians achieving anything, who, placing their hands to their mouths, retreated empty-handed. The Hierarch and the entire congregation of the church sang hymns of victory and gratitude with tears: "Your right hand, O Lord, has become glorious in power; Your right hand, O Lord, has dashed the enemy in pieces. And in the greatness of Your glory You have overthrown those who rose against You. All the nations have surrounded me, but in the name of the Lord, I have overcome them."
Thus, the All-Holy and Most Immaculate Theotokos, the protection of Christians, has demonstrated to us her strength and has granted us this great and extraordinary salvation. For this reason, we commemorate this present occasion annually, in her venerable house, indeed in Blachernae.
Source: Translated by John Sanidopoulos.
On this day [August 7th], we commemorate the beyond all words and beyond all hope gift of perfect help granted to us by Christ our true God against the impious enemies surrounding us from all directions, both by land and sea, through our All-Holy and Immaculate Lady the Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary who bore Him without seed, interceding for the salvation of this God-protected and royal city.
This occurred during the times of Emperor Heraclius, when Khosrow, the king of the Persians, sent forth his general Shahrbaraz to this God-protected city with heavy forces, who, having plundered all the East, captured the strait at Chalcedon, expecting a great haul from the cities. Seeing this, Heraclius crossed into the land of the Persians via the Black Sea, achieving more there than the Persians had accomplished in crossing Roman territory, leaving behind his sons here with Patriarch Sergius and the marvelous Bonos.
The Khagan, the leader of the Avars, having gathered a multitude from neighboring nations, attacked Constantinople by land and sea. From the east came the Scythians, and the city was surrounded on all sides, hoping to seize it, although this city boasts of the cross and the passions of Christ and has been granted as a gift from Him to the Theotokos.
Thus, in every aspect of the siege and the battle at the walls, whether in action or in contemplation, they were more barbaric, yet courageously opposing. Bonos encouraged them in battle, and there were many casualties on both sides. Thus, after they attacked three or four times and remained thwarted thanks to the alliance of the Theotokos, they became even more enraged. The residents of the city, perceiving the situation, sent envoys to the Khagan, requesting peace in exchange for a large sum of money. However, he, miserly in heart and demeanor, accepted the money and sent the ambassadors back without any agreement, stating: "Tomorrow I will seize your city with my own hand like a bird's nest, and I will allow you to escape only in your tunic, as I shall show you no other philanthropy," after having previously blasphemed Christ, our God, and the One who bore Him.
Hearing this, the inhabitants of the city, priests and laity, were summoned to the holy temples, raising their hands to heaven and saying: "Lord, from Your holy abode, behold the unclean Khagan and all that he dares to do, and overcome him, You, who are our defender, so that they will not say: 'Where is their God?'"
They prayed with tears, while others fought on land and at sea, when the Lord, who had been blasphemed by them, sent winds and storms upon the sea, destroying the Scythian ships and instilling courage in the besieged and fear in the barbarians, who perpetrated a massacre that is beyond measure.
This occurred without the Persians achieving anything, who, placing their hands to their mouths, retreated empty-handed. The Hierarch and the entire congregation of the church sang hymns of victory and gratitude with tears: "Your right hand, O Lord, has become glorious in power; Your right hand, O Lord, has dashed the enemy in pieces. And in the greatness of Your glory You have overthrown those who rose against You. All the nations have surrounded me, but in the name of the Lord, I have overcome them."
Thus, the All-Holy and Most Immaculate Theotokos, the protection of Christians, has demonstrated to us her strength and has granted us this great and extraordinary salvation. For this reason, we commemorate this present occasion annually, in her venerable house, indeed in Blachernae.
Source: Translated by John Sanidopoulos.
