Righteous Philaret the Merciful of Amnia in Asia Minor

Philaret was a wealthy landowner of Amnia in Paphlagonia, on the Black Sea coast of Asia Minor, in the 8th century. His Life, written by his grandson Niketas in 821–822, tells that he gave so freely to the poor — his oxen, his horse, his grain, even a cow and her calf — that his household fell into poverty, to his wife’s despair.

The family’s fortunes turned in 788, when his granddaughter Maria was chosen at an imperial bride-show and married the young emperor Constantine VI. Philaret moved to Constantinople, went on giving alms, and died there in 792.