who was phocius?

Hello, Casca...

Foxe's Book of Martyrs (online, at this
link)http://www.hrionline.ac.uk/foxe/apparatus/person_glossaryP.htm
describes Phocius (Photius, Phoceus) tersely as "a Byzantine
theologian and patriarch of Constantinople."

This does little justice to one of the most complex and fascinating
figures of the Middle Ages: Photius was among other things the main
architect of the schism between the Roman and Eastern churches.  His
erudition was tremendous, his writings plentiful and influential (many
Greek documents of the classical era are known only by the sections he
quotes).  Unfortunately, his vast energy and intelligence were matched
by overweening personal ambition and other less savoury
characteristics.

A tolerably comprehensive short biography may be found in the online
version of the Catholic Encyclopedia, at this link:
http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/12043b.htm

You will find most online references by searching under the "Photius" spelling.

Search strategy:

Phocius Photius

-Chromedome