June 14

Methodius I (c. 785–847) was appointed Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople in 843 after years of imperial iconoclasm. He played a key role in the Triumph of Orthodoxy, restoring the veneration of icons across the Byzantine Empire. As patriarch, he convened synods that reaffirmed the legitimacy of icons in worship. He authored theological defenses of iconodule doctrine against iconoclast critics. His leadership reinforced the bond between church and state and shaped Eastern Orthodox tradition for centuries.

Guadamir was the Bishop of Vic in Catalonia until his death in 957. He oversaw the administration of the diocese and its ecclesiastical properties. He supported the growth and reform of monastic communities in the region. Historical records praise his piety and governance during a formative period for the Catalan church. His tenure contributed to the consolidation of church authority in medieval Spain.

Simon Sudbury (1316–1381) served as Bishop of London before becoming Lord Chancellor and Archbishop of Canterbury in 1375. As Lord Chancellor, he helped impose taxes that fueled widespread discontent among the peasantry. During the Peasants' Revolt, rebels besieged the Tower of London demanding his surrender. He was captured, dragged from sanctuary, and beheaded on Tower Hill on June 14, 1381. His death symbolizes the intense social and political tensions of 14th-century England. Sudbury's career illustrates the fraught relationship between church leadership and royal authority.

Born into a prominent plantation family in North Carolina, Polk became an Episcopal minister before the Civil War. He offered his services to the Confederacy and was commissioned as a major general in 1861. Polk led troops in major battles, including Shiloh and Perryville, earning a reputation for aggressive leadership. His dual role as cleric and commander earned him the nickname the Fighting Bishop. He was killed by artillery fire in 1864 during the Atlanta Campaign.