Venerable Theodora of Alexandria (†474–491) — September 11 / September 24 (Julian Calendar)

On this day, September 11 according to the Julian Calendar (September 24 civil calendar), the Georgian Orthodox Church commemorates Venerable Theodora of Alexandria.

Venerable Theodora of Alexandria and her husband lived in Alexandria in the time of Emperor Zeno (474–491). Peace and love reigned in their home, but through the wiles of the devil Saint Theodora fell into a terrible sin. A young man who was greatly attracted to her managed to seduce her with the help of a deceitful and flattering woman. Theodora betrayed her husband, and only when “the sin was accomplished” did she understand “what she had done to her own soul.” At dawn she hastened to a women’s monastery and openly confessed her sin. Thereafter, trusting in the all-merciful God, she resolved to cleanse her defiled soul through monastic struggle, prayer and fasting. She secretly left her home, put on men’s clothing and came to a men’s monastery, for she feared that her husband would find her in a convent. To test the newcomer’s resolve, the abbot would not even let her into the monastery courtyard. Theodora knew well that many wild beasts roamed that desolate place, yet without complaint she remained at the gates to spend the night, and the Lord kept His chosen one unharmed. In the morning the saint fell at the abbot’s feet, presented herself as Theodore of Alexandria, and asked to be received into the brotherhood: “I have come in repentance and weeping for my sins.” Convinced of her sincerity, the abbot agreed.

Even experienced monks marveled at Theodora’s rigorous labors, obedience and patience. She diligently watered the plants, ground the wheat, baked bread and prepared food for the brethren, and at night, on her knees, she prayed fervently, asking the Lord for the forgiveness of her sins. Once the saint was sent to Alexandria to buy wheat. Night fell as Theodora was returning from the city, and with the superior’s blessing she lodged the camels at the guesthouse of the Enaton monastery, stayed there herself and slept beside the camels. When all had fallen asleep, the daughter of an abbot, who was staying at the monastery as a guest and was captivated by the saint’s beauty, approached and said: “Young man, rest with me!” Refused, and inflamed with passion, she sinned with another guest.

Six months later the abbot learned that his daughter was with child, and she named the monk Theodore as her seducer. The father at once informed the superior of the monastery where the blessed mother was laboring, and he in turn told Theodora of the charge against her. “Forgive me, father, for I have no part in such a deed,” the saint replied, and the superior, who knew his spiritual child well, believed her without question. When the harlot gave birth, the monks of the Enaton brought the infant to Theodora’s monastery and began to reproach the brethren for their impure life. This time the superior himself took the slander for the truth and became terribly angry with the holy mother. The newborn was handed over to Theodora, and she was driven from the monastery in disgrace. The Lord’s chosen one bore this new trial with humility, accepting it as the price of her former sin. The blessed one settled with the child in a hut near the monastery. Shepherds gave her milk for the child, while Theodora herself fed on wild herbs and drank the brackish water of the sea. Thus seven years passed. “Her nails became like a leopard’s and her hair like a lion’s, and all her limbs turned yellow from the heat of the day and the frost and dew of the night.” The evil one assailed the blessed one with terrible temptations, but the holy ascetic courageously withstood him. At last, at the request of the brethren, the superior brought Theodora back into the monastery, where she lived for two years in seclusion, raising the child in the fear of God.

One night the superior, in a miraculous vision, beheld among the angels and holy martyrs “a woman of inexpressible glory,” who sat upon a golden throne prepared for her. The angels accompanying her said to him: “This is your monk Theodore, who was refined through struggle…” The astonished superior went with the brethren to the monk’s cell, where she had by then already reposed, and “when they looked, they found that she was a woman, and they marveled, and fear fell upon them.” Soon the monks of the Enaton also learned that they had burdened their souls with a terrible slander; stricken with dread, they knelt before the holy body and begged forgiveness. News of the holy ascetic reached Theodora’s husband as well. He too became a monk, settled in Theodora’s cell, and through strict ascetic labor became well-pleasing to the Lord. The blessed mother’s adopted son also followed her path and later became abbot of that very monastery.