De sancta Theodora
The Fall and the Flight
After being deceived into adultery, Theodora repents and disguises herself as a monk to seek penance in a monastery.
Theodora, a noble woman and wife, lived in Alexandria during the time of the Emperor Zeno; she had a wealthy husband who feared God, but the devil, envious of Theodora's holiness, stirred up a certain rich man to lust after her, and he harassed her with constant messages and gifts to get her to give in to him. But she rejected his messengers and scorned his gifts. He harassed her so relentlessly that she had no peace and was nearly at her breaking point. Finally, he sent a sorceress to her, who pressured her intensely to take pity on the man and give in to him. When she said she would never commit such a grave sin before the eyes of God, who sees all things, the sorceress added, "Whatever happens during the day, God certainly knows and sees, but whatever is committed at dusk and as the sun sets, God doesn't see at all." The girl asked the sorceress, "Are you telling the truth?" She replied, "I am indeed telling the truth." Deceived by the sorceress's words, the girl said she would have the man come to her at dusk and fulfill his desire. When she had reported this to the man, he was overjoyed and came to her at the agreed-upon hour, slept with her, and left; but Theodora, coming to her senses, wept bitterly and beat her face, saying, "Woe, woe is me! I have lost my soul; I have destroyed the appearance of my beauty." Her husband, returning home and seeing his wife so desolate and mourning, tried to comfort her, though he didn't know the cause. She refused to accept any comfort; at daybreak, she went to a convent of nuns and asked the abbess if God could know about a grave sin she had committed at dusk. She replied, "Nothing can be hidden from God; God knows and sees everything that happens, no matter when it is committed." Weeping bitterly, she said, "Give me the book of the holy Gospel, so that I may discern my own fate." Opening it, she found the words: 'What I have written, I have written.' Returning home, while her husband was away one day, she cut her hair, put on his clothes, and hurried to a monastery eight miles away. She asked to be received there with the monks, and her request was granted. When asked her name, she said she was called Theodorus. She performed all her duties humbly, and her service was pleasing to everyone.
The Hidden Life of Theodorus
Theodora, living as the monk Theodorus, faces false accusations and exile, enduring years of hardship with patience.
After some years, the abbot called for Brother Theodorus and ordered him to yoke the oxen and bring oil from the city. Her husband, however, was weeping greatly, fearing that she had run off with another man. And behold, an angel of the Lord said to him, "Rise in the morning and stand on the road to the martyrdom of Peter the Apostle, and whoever meets you there will be your wife." When this happened, Theodora came with the camels, and seeing and recognizing her husband, she said to herself, "Alas, my good husband, how I struggle to be freed from the sin I committed against you." When she approached, she greeted him, saying, "May my lord rejoice." He didn't recognize her at all, but after waiting for a very long time and crying out that he had been deceived, a voice came to him saying, 'The one who greeted you yesterday morning was your wife.' Such, however. Blessed Theodora was of such holiness that she performed many miracles; for she rescued a man torn by a beast and raised him by her prayers, and she even pursued the beast itself and cursed it, so that it suddenly fell down dead. The devil, however, not wanting to endure her holiness, appeared to her and said: 'You harlot and adulteress, you have left your husband above all others to come here and despise me. Through the terrible powers of the Abbot, I will stir up a battle within you, and if I do not make you deny the Crucified, do not say that I am who I am.' She, however, made the sign of the cross over herself, and the demon immediately vanished. On one occasion, while she was returning from the city with camels and had been given hospitality in a certain place, a girl came to her one night and said, 'Sleep with me.' When she refused, the girl went to another who was lying in the same place; but when her belly had swollen and... When she was asked by whom she had conceived, she said, 'That monk Theodorus slept with me.' They therefore sent the newborn child to the abbot of the monastery, who, when he rebuked Theodorus and he begged for mercy, placed the child on his shoulders and cast him out of the monastery. She, however, having been cast out, remained outside the monastery for seven years and nourished the infant on the milk of animals.
Spiritual Warfare and Victory
Theodora withstands relentless demonic assaults and temptations, ultimately finding reconciliation and preparing for her death.
The devil, however, jealous of her great patience, took the form of her husband and asked her, "What are you doing here, my lady?" Look, I'm wasting away for you, and I find no comfort." Come, therefore, my light, for if you have lain with any man, I forgive you for it." But she, believing him to be her husband, said to him, "I will never stay with you again, because the son of John the soldier has lain with me, and I want to do penance for the fact that I have sinned against you." After she prayed, he vanished instantly, and she realized it was a demon. Another time, the devil, wanting to terrify her, had demons come to her in the likeness of terrible wild beasts, and a certain man, inciting them, said, "Eat this harlot." She, however, prayed, and they vanished. On another occasion, a group of soldiers led by a prince approached, and as the others worshiped him, the soldiers told Theodora, "Get up and worship our prince." She answered, "I worship the Lord God." When this was reported to the prince, he ordered her to be brought in and subjected to so many tortures that she was thought to be dead, and soon after, the whole crowd vanished. Another time, she saw a great deal of gold there; she made the sign of the cross, rejected it, and commended herself to God. Yet another time, she saw someone carrying a basket full of every kind of food, who said to her, "The prince who struck you says: take and eat, for he did this unknowingly." But she made the sign of the cross, and it vanished immediately. When seven years had passed, the abbot, considering her patience, reconciled her and brought her into the monastery with her child. After she had spent two more years there in a praiseworthy manner, she took the child and shut him in her cell with her; when this was revealed to the abbot, he sent some monks to listen carefully to what she was saying to him. But she, embracing and kissing the child, said, "My sweetest child, the time of my life has come. I leave you to God; may you have Him as your father and helper. My sweetest child, persist in fasting and prayer, and serve your brothers with devotion."
The Revelation of Holiness
Following her death, Theodora's true identity and sanctity are revealed through a vision, leading to her honorable burial and the spiritual legacy she leaves behind.
Saying this, she gave up her spirit and fell asleep happily in the Lord around the year 470; seeing this, the boy began to weep bitterly. That very night, however, the abbot of the monastery was shown a vision. Great wedding festivities were being prepared, and the ranks of angels, prophets, martyrs, and all the saints were arriving. Suddenly, in their midst, was a woman alone, surrounded by ineffable glory; she walked right up to the wedding, sat on a couch, and everyone standing nearby called out to her. Then a voice said, 'This is Abbot Theodora, who was falsely accused regarding the boy; seven times she has been changed and punished, for she defiled the bed of her husband.' Roused and stirred, the abbot went with the brothers to her cell and found her already dead. As they entered and uncovered her, they discovered she was a woman. The abbot sent for the father of the girl who had slandered her and said to him, 'The husband of your daughter is dead.' While he was on his way, a man came running to meet him. When the abbot asked him where he was going, he said, 'My wife is dead, and I am going to see her.' The abbot took Theodora's husband onto his horse, and as they traveled, they wept bitterly and buried her with many praises. Her husband then took the cell of his wife Theodora and, remaining there, eventually fell asleep in the Lord. The boy, however, following Theodora's example, excelled in such honesty of character that when the abbot of the monastery died, he was unanimously elected as abbot.
Read the original Latin
Theodora nobilis mulier et sponsa apud Alexandriam tempore Zenonis imperatoris virum habebat divitem et timentem Deum, dyabolus autem Theodorae invidens sanctitati virum quendam divitem in illius concupiscentiam incitavit, qui eam crebris nuntiis et muneribus molestabat, ut assensum sibi praeberet. Sed illa nuntios respuebat et munera contemnebat. In tantum autem eam molestabat, quod ipsam quietem habere non permitteret et paene deficere videretur, tandem quandam magam ad eam misit, quae eam, ut viri illius misereretur sibique consentiret, plurimum hortabatur. Quae cum diceret, se coram oculis Dei cuncta cernentis tam grande peccatum nunquam committere, malefica adjunxit: quidquid in die fit, hoc utique Deus scit et videt, quidquid autem advesperascente et occidente sole committitur, Deus: minime intuetur. Dixitque puella maleficae nunquid veritatem dicis? Et illa: etiam dico veritatem, Decepta puella verbis maleficae dixit, ut advesperascente die virum ad se venire faceret, et voluntatem suam adimpleret. Quod cum viro retulisset, ille vehementer exsultans hora, qua condixerat, ad eam venit secumgue concubuit et abscessit, Theodora autem ad se ipsam rediens amarissime flebat et faciem suam percutiebat dicens: heu, heu me, perdidi animam meam, destruxi aspectum decoris mei. Vir autem ejus domum rediens et uxorem suam sic desolatam et moerentem videns causam tamen nesciens eam consolari nitebatur, sed illa nullam consolationem percipere volebat, mane autem facto quoddam monasterium monialium adiit et abbatissam interrogavit, an Deus quoddam grave delictum, quod die advesperascente commiserat, scire posset.
Cui illa: nihil Deo abscondi potest et Deus scit et videt omne, quod fit, quacumque hora illud committatur. Quae flens amare dixit: da mihi librum sancti evangelii, ut sortiar memet ipsam. Aperiens reperit: quod scripsi, scripsi, Rediens ergo domum, dum quadam die vir suus abesset, comam suam praecidit, vestimenta viri assumens ad quoddam monasterium monachorum, quod per octo milliaria distabat, festinabat et, ut ibidem cum monachis reciperetur, petiit et, quod petiit, impetravit, Interrogata de nomine dixit, se Theodorum nuncupari; illa vero officia omnia humiliter faciebat et ejus servitium omnibus gratum fuit. Post aliquot ergo annos abbas fratrem Theodorum vocavit et, ut boves jungeret et oleum de civitate afferret, praecepit. Vir autem ejus plurimum flebat timens, ne cum viro altero recessisset. Et ecce angelus domini sibi dixit: surge mane et sta in via martirii Petri apostoli et quae tibi obviaverit, ipsa tua uxor erit. Quo facto Theodora cum camelis venit et virum suum videns et recognoscens intra se dixit: heu me, vir bone meus, quantum laboro, ut eripiar a peccato, quod feci in te. Cum autem appropinquasset, salutavit eum dicens: gaüldeat dominus meus.
Jlle autem eam penitus non cognovit, sed cum diutissime exspectaret et se deceptum clamaret, facta est vox ad eum dicens: ille, qui te heri mane salutavit, uxor tua erat. Tantae au"tem. sanctitatis fuit beata Theodora, ut multa miracula faceret, nam et hominem a bestia laceratum eripuit et suis precibus suscitavit, ipsam quoque bestiam insecuta maledixit, quae subito mortua corruit, Dyabolus autem snam sanctitatem ferre non volens eidem apparuit dicens: meretrix prae omnibus et adultera reliquisti viram tuum, ut huc venires et me contemneres: per virtutes Abas tremendas in te suscitabo proelium et, si non te fecero crucifixum negare, non dicas, quia ego sum, Ipsa autem signum crucis sibi edidit et prolinus daemon evanuit. Quadam autem vice dum de civitate cum camelis rediret et in quodam loco hojpitata fuisset, puella quadam nocte ad eam venit dicens: dormi mecum. Quae cum respueret, ivit ad, alterum, qui in eodem loco jacebat; cum antem ejus venter intumuisset et,. de quo concepisset, interrogata fuisset, ait: monachus ille Theodorus dormivit mecum. Natum igitur puerum ad abbatem monasterii transmiserunt, qui cum Theodorum increparet, et ille sibi indulgeri peteret, scapulis suis puerum imposuit et de monasterio projecit. Illa autem abjecta per septem annos extra monasterium mansit et de lacte pecorum infantem nutrivit.
Dyabolus autem tantae ejus patientiae invidens in speciem viri sui se transfiguravit eique dixit: quid hic agis, domina mea? ecce langueo pro te nec aliquam consolationem recipio. Veni ergo, lux mea, quia, si cum viro aliquo jacuisti, hoc tibi indulgeo. At illa credens virum suum esse, dixit ad illum: nunquam amplius tecum manebo, quia filins Johannis militis jacuit mecum et volo agere poenitentiam de eo, quod in te peccavi. Et cum orasset, statim evanuit et daemonem faisse cognovit. Altera iterum vice dyabolus volens eam terrere, in similitudinem ferarum terribilium daemones ad eam venerunt et vir quidam instigans eas dicebat: comedite meretricem hanc. Ista autem oravit et evanuerunt. Altera vice multitudo militum veniebat, quam princeps praecedebat, et eum caeteri adorabant, dixeruntque milites Theodorae: surge et adora principem nostrum.
Quae respondit: dominum Deum adoro. Quod cum principi nuntiatum fuisset, jussit eam adduci et tot tormentis affici, ut mortua putaretur, et postmodum omnis turba evanuit. Alia iteram vice vidit ibidem aurum multum, quae signans se illud refagit et Deo se recommendavit. Altera etiam vice vidit quendam canistrum plenum omni genere ciborum ferentem et dicentem sibi: dicit princeps, qui te cecidit, tolle, comede, quia nesciens fecit hoc. llla autem se signavit et protinus evanuit. Completis autem septem annis abbas patientiam ejus considerans eam reconciliavit et cum puero suo in monasterium introduxit. Ubi cum duos postmodum annos laudabiliter peregisset, puerum accepit et secum illum in cella sua clausit: quod cum abbati revelatum fuisset, misit quosdam monachos, qui diligentius auscultarent, quidnam cum eo loqueretur. llla autem puerum amplexans et deosculans dixit: fili mi dulcissime, tempus vitae meae venit, relinquo te Deo, ipsum patrem et adjutorem habeas, fili dulcissime, jejuniis et orationibus insistas et fratribus tuis devote servias.
Hoc dicens spiritum tradidit et in domino feliciter obdormivit circa annos domini CCCCLXX : quod puer cernens plurimum flere coepit. In ipsa autem nocte visio abbati monasterii monstrata est in hunc modum. Nuptiae maximae parabantur et veniebant ordines angelorum et prophetarum et martirum et omnium sanctorum et ecce in medio eorum mulier sola, gloria ineffabili circumdata, et venit usque ad nuptias et sedit super lectum et omnes adstantes advocabant eam. Et ecce vox dicens: hic est abbas Theodorus, qui falso de puero accusatus est, VII tempora super ea mutata sunt; castigata est enim, quia cubile viri sui coinquinavit, Excitatus autem abbas concitus cum fratribus ad cellam ejus ivit et eam jam defunctam invenit et intrantes et discooperientes ipsam esse feminam invenerunt misitque abbas pro patre puellae, quae eam infamaverat, et dixit illi: vir filiae tuae mortuus. est; et auferens vestimentum mulierem esse cognovit, Factus est igitur timor magnus super omnes, qui hoc audierunt, angelus antem domini abbati locutus est: surge velociter, equum adscende et vade in civitatem el, si quis obviaverit, assume et tecum adduc. Qui dum pergeret, quidam vir currens sibi obviavit. Quem cum abbas interrogaret, quo pergeret, ille ait: mulier mea mortua est et vado videre eam. Et assumsit abbas virum Theodorae in equum et venientes plurimum fleverunt et ipsam cum multis laudibus sepelierunt, Vir autem ejus cellam uxoris suae Theodorae accepit et ibidem permanens tandem in domino obdormivit, puer autem Theodorae nufricem sequens omni morum honestate pollebat, ita quod mortuo abbate monasterii in abbatem ipse unanimiter est electus.
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