DALMAZIO, saint. — Archimandrite of the first monastery of Constantinople, d. ca. 440. After having been a soldier under Theodosius I, he became a monk in the monastery under the direction of Isac, whom he succeeded.
While presiding over the Council at Ephesus (431), St. Cyril of Alexandria wrote him a letter so that he might in turn inform the Emperor, whose delegate, Candidianus, supported the cause of Nestorius. In order to ensure its safe delivery, Cyril concealed the letter inside a reed carried by a poor man. On learning of the Saint’s difficulties, D. left his monastery—the first time after 48 years—and went with a procession of abbots and monks to Theodosius II to plead the cause of St. Cyril. He obtained from the Emperor the convocation of delegates of the Cyrillians and the Antiochenes to confer with them at Chalcedon. D. is commemorated by the Greeks on 3 Aug.