Widely educated, strong in faith, Theodore the Studite left behind a rich written heritage. The saint was born in Constantinople and became interested in theology from childhood. In adolescence, he accepted obedience in a monastery, not far from Mount Olympus.
I amazed his contemporaries with his clear mind, the ability to express his thoughts both in speech and in writing, humility and modesty.
After some time he became the abbot of the monastery. He strictly adhered to the dogmas of the faith and revered icons, pointing out to the iconoclasts their errors.
For this he suffered a lot.
First he was exiled for the condemnation of Constantine Porphyrogenitus, his anti-church actions, divorce from the lawful wife and oppression of the monks. Theodore’s exile did not last long. The emperor’s mother, Irina, overthrew her son and returned the exiled churchmen, among whom was Theodore.
The Empress asked him to move to the abandoned Studite monastery and revive it. The resettlement took place in 798. The saint wrote the monastery’s charter with strict rules. This charter was accepted 200 years later by Saint Theodosius from the Kyiv Lavra and gradually spread to other monasteries of Rus’.
Another exile followed in 809, for contradicting Emperor Nicephorus.
After 2 years, Nicephorus died and the Studite returned with honor to his monastery.
In 815, Emperor Leo began to actively fight the veneration of icons. Saint Theodore declared that even if an angel had descended from heaven and began to prohibit the veneration of icons, he and his supporters would not have listened to him. In defiance of the emperor and patriarch, Theodore organized a religious procession with icons, for which he was exiled again. This time the punishment was the most severe, he had no means of livelihood, residents were forbidden to welcome and help the exiled monk.
Fortunately, emperors in Constantinople changed frequently. The next of them, Michael, returned Theodore from exile, but did not give him the Studio monastery. The monk settled in his homeland in Bithynia.
In 826 he peacefully departed to the Lord in Chersonesos, and in 845 his relics were transferred to the Studite monastery. This day is celebrated by the church on February 8.
Days of Remembrance
February 8
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