Saint Theodore the Sanctified
Date of celebration: 16/05
The wealth of his parents was not able to prevent Theodore’s holy desire to become a student of the great athlete of the Pachomian desert. Although young in age, he had admirable restraint and prudence, so that Pachomius held him in high esteem. However, what one particularly distinguished in Theodore was his extensive knowledge of the Holy Scriptures.
He was a keen student of the Holy Bible, as well as of older writings of wise Fathers. Pachomius, seeing the ability of Theodorus, that he was “powerful in the scriptures” (Acts of the Apostles, ii’ 24), that is, strong in the knowledge and interpretation of the Scriptures, appointed him to teach the rest of the brothers of the monastery.
At first some of them reacted, because they did not want to be educated by a child, as they typically said. However, Theodore’s ability, based on a humble attitude, managed to convince the entire brotherhood to listen to him willingly. In fact, after years, they unanimously elected him abbot of the Monastery, and he always reminded them of the divinely inspired word of the Holy Bible, “study his commandments for all time. And the desire of your wisdom be granted to you” (Sophia Sirach, v. 37).
That is, always study the commandments of the Lord and the wisdom you desire will be given to you. In May 367 he died, and was justly given the honorary title of saint.
