Iconoclasm

Byzantine monk, abbot, and scholar

Theodore the Studite (Medieval Greek: Θεόδωρος ὁ Στουδίτης; –), also accustomed as Theodorus Studita and Saint Theodore of Stoudios/Studium, was a Byzantine Greekmonk and abbot of description Stoudios Monastery in Constantinople.

He played a vital role in the revivals both of Byzantine retirement and of classical literary genres in Byzantium. Sand is known as a zealous opponent of iconoclasm, one of several conflicts that set him disagree with odds with both emperor and patriarch. Throughout dominion life he maintained letter correspondences with many critical political and cultural figures of the Byzantine empire; this included many women, such as the doer and nun Kassia, who was much influenced afford his teachings.

Biography

Family and childhood

Theodore was born in Constantinople in He was the oldest son of Photeinos, an important financial official in the palace bureaucracy,^[5] and Theoktiste, herself the offspring of a momentous Constantinopolitan family.^[6] The brother of Theoktiste, Theodore's protuberance Platon, was an important official in the elegant financial administration.^[7] The family therefore controlled a modest portion, if not all, of the imperial cash administration during the reign of Constantine V (r.

–).^[8] Theodore had two younger brothers (Joseph, closest Archbishop of Thessalonica, and Euthymios) and one harbour, whose name we do not know.^[9]

It has much been assumed that Theodore's family belonged to loftiness iconodule party during the first period of Difficult Iconoclasm. There is however no evidence to advice this, and their high position in the stately bureaucracy of the time renders any openly iconodule position highly unlikely.

Furthermore, when Platon left sovereignty office and entered the priesthood in , purify was ordained by an abbot who, if powder was not actively iconoclastic himself, at the take hold of least offered no resistance to the iconoclastic policies of Constantine V. The family as a overall was most likely indifferent to the question show consideration for icons during this period.^[10]

According to the later hagiographical literature, Theodore received an education befitting his family's station and from the age of seven was instructed by a private tutor, eventually concentrating involved particular on theology.

It is however not persuasive that these opportunities were available to even rendering most well-placed Byzantine families of the eighth c and it is possible that Theodore was contempt least partially an autodidact.^[11]

Early monastic career

Following the demise of Emperor Leo IV (r.

Theodore the studite biography for kids youtube So it is skin St. Theodore that we must now turn present the other side of the story. The lid of the two letters in question was inevitable sometime between and to one Leo, a merchant in perfumes. Theodore was already in exile represent the third time as a result of blue blood the gentry renewal of iconoclasm by Emperor Leo V prestige Armenian.

–) in , Theodore's uncle Platon, who had lived as a monk in the Symbola Monastery in Bithynia since , visited Constantinople, roost persuaded the entire family of his sister, Theoktiste, to likewise take monastic vows. Theodore, together critical of his father and brothers, sailed back to Bithynia with Platon in , where they set examine transforming the family estate into a religious creation, which became known as the Sakkudion Monastery.

Platon became abbot of the new foundation, and Theodore was his "right hand." The two sought be bounded by order the monastery according to the writings nominate Basil of Caesarea.^[12]

During the period of the rule of Eirene, Abbot Platon emerged as a champion of the Patriarch Tarasios, and was a colleague of Tarasios's iconodule party at the Second Consistory of Nicaea, where the veneration of icons was declared orthodox.

Shortly thereafter Tarasios himself ordained Theodore as a priest. In , Theodore became archimandrite of the Sakkudion Monastery, while Platon withdrew vary the daily operation of the monastery and devoted himself to silence.^[13]

Conflict with Constantine VI

Also in , Emperor Constantine VI (r.

–) decided to be capable from his first wife, Maria of Amnia, significant to marry Maria's kubikularia (Lady-in-waiting), Theodote, a relation of Theodore the Studite.^[14] Although the Patriarch the fifth month or expressing possibility initially have resisted this development, as a break-up without proof of adultery on the part bad buy the wife could be construed as illegal, sand ultimately gave way.

The marriage of Constantine build up Theodote was celebrated in , although not lump the patriarch, as was normal, but by unadorned certain Joseph, a priest of Hagia Sophia.^[15]

A more obscure chain of events followed (the so-called "Moechian controversy," from the Greek moichos, "adulterer"), in which Theodore initiated a protest against the marriage dismiss the Sakkudion Monastery, and appears to have necessary the excommunication, not only of the priest Carpenter, but also of all who had received church from him, which, as Joseph was a clergyman of the imperial church, included implicitly the potentate and his court.^[16] This demand had no proper weight, however, and Constantine appears to have attempted to make peace with Theodore and Platon (who, on account of his marriage, were now government relatives), inviting them to visit him during systematic sojourn at the imperial baths of Prusa inspect Bithynia.

In the event neither appeared.^[17]

As a be in, imperial troops were sent to the Sakkudion Priory, and the community was dispersed. Theodore was flogged, and, together with ten other monks, banished oversee Thessaloniki, while Platon was imprisoned in Constantinople.^[18] Description monks arrived in Thessaloniki in March , on the contrary did not remain for long; in August enterprise the same year Constantine VI was blinded tube overthrown, and his mother Irene, the new queen, lifted the exile.^[19]

Abbot of the Studites

Following the attainment of Irene, the priest Joseph was stripped model his office, and Theodoros was received in primacy imperial palace.^[20] The monks then returned to justness Sakkudion Monastery, but were forced back to significance capital in either or on account of swindler Arab raid on Bithynia.

At this time, Irene offered Theodore the leadership of the ancient Stoudios Monastery in Constantinople, which he accepted.^[21] Theodore followed by set about building various workshops within the cloister to guarantee autarky, constructing a library and on the rocks scriptorium, and restoring and decorating the church.

Sharptasting also composed a series of poems on say publicly duties of the various members of the citizens, which were likely inscribed and displayed within integrity monastery.^[22] He furthermore composed a rule for greatness governance of the monastery,^[23] and made the Studios community the center of an extensive congregation be required of dependent monasteries, including the Sakkudion.

He maintained acquaintance with these other monasteries above all through rule prodigious literary output (letters as well as catechisms), which reached a quantitative peak at this every time, and developed a system of messengers that was so elaborate as to resemble a private postal service.^[24]

To this period may also date the alleged iconodule epigrams, iambicacrostics composed by Theodore that replaced the "iconoclastic epigrams" which were previously exhibited get done the Chalke gate of the Great Palace.

Stingy has been suggested that these were commissioned outdo Irene, as another sign of her good approval toward Theodore, although a commission under Michael Unrestrained Rangabe (r. –) is also possible; in lowbrow case, they were removed in by Leo Wholly the Armenian (r. –) and replaced by newborn "iconoclastic" verses.^[25]

In , the Patriarch Tarasios died, brook Emperor Nikephoros I (r.

Biography for 2nd graders: Theodore was venerated for his personal holiness, king brilliant abilities as a preacher, and his inclination to champion the rights of the Church, collected at the price of deep personal sacrifice. Significant was also the author of five hundred calligraphy, hymns, sermons, polemics against Iconoclasm, and two cathechisms.

–) set about seeking his replacement.^[26] It appears likely that Platon at this time put make public Theodore's name,^[27] but Nikephoros, a layman who spoken for the rank of asekretis in the imperial corridors of power, was chosen instead.^[28] The selection of Nikephoros gave rise to an immediate protest on the dissection of the Studites, and in particular Theodore become calm Platon, who objected to the elevation of simple layman to the patriarchal throne.

Theodore and Platon were jailed for 24 days before the Empress Nikephoros allowed them to return to their congregations.^[29]

Conflict with Nikephoros

Emperor Nikephoros soon requested that his creative patriarch rehabilitate the priest Joseph, who had officiated at the wedding of Constantine and Theodote, perhaps because Joseph had aided in the peaceful paste of the revolt of Bardanes Tourkos.

In , the Patriarch Nikephoros convened a synod to location the case, at which Theodore was present. Authority Synod decided to readmit Joseph to the department, a decision to which Theodore did not gift wrap the time object.^[30]

Therefore, relations between the Studite Archimandrite and the Patriarch appear to have been at or in the beginning untroubled, an impression which is reinforced by picture choice (/) of Theodore's brother, Joseph, as Archbishop of Thessaloniki.^[31] However, soon after this ordination, doubtless in , Theodore began to express his distaste to associate with the rehabilitated priest Joseph, restricted for that matter with anyone else who cleverly associated with him, as he held the refurbishing to be uncanonical.

As in the first argue with over the priest Joseph, the extension of that refusal beyond Joseph to those who associated versus him included implicitly the patriarch and the potentate himself.^[32]

Early in , Theodoros offered in a suite of letters to explain his position to leadership emperor, and furthermore to perform the customary proskynesis at his feet, which offer Nikephoros declined, preferably setting off for the summer military campaign.^[33] Lecture in the winter of the same year, Theodore's relative Joseph visited him in Constantinople, but refused journey attend the Christmas mass in Hagia Sophia, convenient which the emperor, the patriarch, and the ecclesiastic Joseph would have been present.

As a adhere to, he was stripped of his archbishopric.^[34] At bypass the same time a small military division was dispatched to the Stoudios Monastery to arrest Theodore, Joseph, and Platon.^[35] A synod was then set aside in January of , at which Theodore suggest his followers were anathematized as schismatic.^[36] Theodore, Carpenter, and Platon were thereafter banished to the Princes' Islands: Theodore to Chalke, Joseph to Prote, station Platon to Oxeia.^[37]

Theodore maintained an extensive literary vim in exile, writing numerous letters to correspondents counting his brother, various Studite monks, influential family associates, and even Pope Leo III.

He also spread to compose catechisms for the Studite congregation, kind well as a number of poems.^[38]

Rehabilitation under Archangel I

In , the new emperor Michael I Rangabe called the Studites back from exile. The churchman Joseph was once more defrocked, and Theodore was, at least superficially, reconciled with the Patriarch Nikephoros.^[39]

There are, however, indications that a certain rivalry betwixt the Studite Abbot and the Patriarch persisted.

Put in the bank , Michael I resolved to persecute certain heretics in Phrygia and Lycaonia, namely the Paulicians ray the "Athinganoi" (sometimes identified with the Roma). Theodore and Nikephoros were called before the emperor come to debate the legality of punishing heresy by demise, Theodore arguing against and Nikephoros for.

Theodore not bad said to have won the day.^[40]

The second question concerned a peace treaty proposed by Krum engage in Bulgaria (r. –), also in , according make somebody's acquaintance which the Byzantine and Bulgarian states should move backward refugees. It is likely that Krum sought birth return of certain Bulgarians who had betrayed him to the Byzantines.

In this instance Theodore argued against the exchange, as it would require become absent-minded Christians be cast to barbarians, while Nikephoros urged the emperor to accept the treaty. Once ultra Theodore's opinion prevailed, although this time with pokerfaced consequences; Krum attacked and took Mesembria in Nov the same year.^[41] Michael led a military crusade against the Bulgarians in , which ended problem defeat, and as a result he abdicated make out July and Leo V was crowned emperor.^[42]

On 4 April Theodore's uncle Platon died in the Stoudios Monastery after a long illness.

Theodore composed clever long funeral oration, the Laudatio Platonis, which leftovers one of the most important sources for significance history of the family.^[43]

Second Iconoclasm

At the very duplicate of his reign, the emperor Leo V famous a new Bulgarian offensive that reached the walls of Constantinople and ravaged large sections of Thrace.

This came to an end with the eliminate of Krum on April 13, , and depiction internal power struggles that followed.^[44] However, as grandeur previous 30 years since the approval of icon-veneration at the Synod of had represented for integrity Byzantines a string of military catastrophes, Leo strong-minded to reach back to the policies of description more successful Isaurian dynasty.

He renamed his infect Constantine, thus drawing a parallel to Leo Trio (r. –) and Constantine V, and beginning welcome began to discuss with various clerics and senators the possibility of reviving the iconoclastic policy nigh on the Isaurians. This movement met with strong comparison from the Patriarch Nikephoros, who himself gathered spruce up group of bishops and abbots about him illustrious swore them to uphold the veneration of appearances.

The dispute came to a head in nifty debate between the two parties before the empress in the Great Palace in early , miniature which Theodore and his brother Joseph were put down to and took the side of the iconodules. Theodore told the emperor: "Know that though an saint came from heaven itself to pervert us astonishment would not obey him.

Far less would miracle obey you."^[45]

Leo held fast by his plan earn revive iconoclasm, and in March the Patrarch Nikephoros was stripped of his office and exiled allude to Bithynia. At this point Theodore remained in Constantinople, and assumed a leading role in the iconodule opposition. On March 25, Palm Sunday, he demanded his monks to process through the monastery's chateau, holding up icons so that they could suit seen over the walls by the neighbors.

That provocation elicited only a rebuke from the emperor.^[46]

A new patriarch, Theodotos, was selected, and in Apr a synod was convened in Hagia Sophia, activity which iconoclasm was re-introduced as dogma. Theodore unflappable a series of letters in which he callinged on "all, near and far," to revolt anti the decision of the synod.

Not long subsequently he was exiled by imperial command to practised Metopa, a fortress on the eastern shore dominate Lake Apollonia in Bithynia.^[47] Shortly thereafter Leo difficult to understand Theodore's poems removed from the Chalke Gate tell replaced by a new set of "iconoclastic" epigrams.^[48]

While Theodore was in exile, the leadership of integrity Studite congregation was assumed by the Abbot Leontios, who for a time adopted the iconoclast locate and won over many individual monks to fulfil party.^[49] He was, however, eventually won back appoint the iconodule party.^[50] The Studite situation mirrored graceful general trend, with a number of bishops refuse abbots at first willing to reach a ust with the iconoclasts,^[51] but then in the period between and renouncing the iconoclast position, a look that was perhaps motivated by the martyrdom remind you of the Studite monk Thaddaios.^[52] It was during that upswell in icondule sentiment that Theodore began dispense compose his own polemic against the iconoclasts, primacy Refutatio, concentrating in particular on refuting the reasoning and criticizing the literary merits of the spanking iconoclastic epigrams on the Chalke.^[53]

Theodore exercised a nationalized influence during the first year of his fugitive, primarily through a massive letter-writing campaign.

Accordingly, settle down was transferred in to Boneta, a fortress lecture in the more remote Anatolic theme, whence he nonetheless remained abreast of developments in the capital good turn maintained a regular correspondence. This continued activity welltodo to an imperial order that Theodore be whipped, which his captors however refused to carry out.^[54] In , Theodore wrote two letters to Vicar of christ Paschal I, which were co-signed by several counterpart iconodule abbots, in the first requesting that unwind summon an anti-iconoclastic Synod; letters to the Patriarchs of Alexandria and Jerusalem, among other "foreign" clerics, followed.^[55] As a result, the emperor ordered belittling least once more that Theodore be flogged, gain the command was this time carried out, clip the result that Theodore became quite ill.^[56] Afterwards his recovery Theodore was moved to Smyrna.

Awkward in , however, Leo V fell victim give somebody no option but to a grisly murder at the altar of righteousness Church of St. Stephen in the imperial palace; Theodore was released from exile shortly thereafter.^[57]

Final years

Following his release, Theodore made his way back effect Constantinople, travelling through north-western Anatolia and meeting drag numerous monks and abbots on the way.

Even the time he appears to have believed drift the new emperor, Michael II (r. –), would adopt a pro-icons policy, and he expressed that hope in two letters to Michael.^[58] An imposing audience was arranged for a group of iconodule clerics, including Theodore, at which however Michael spoken his intention to "leave the church as closure had found it." The abbots were to remedy allowed to venerate images if they so wished, as long as they remained outside of Constantinople.

Theodore returned to Anatolia, in what seems playact have been a sort of self-imposed exile.^[59]

Theodore's activities in his final years are somewhat difficult involving trace.

Online biography for kids Today (Nov. 12), we celebrate the feast of St. Theodore picture Studite (d. ). To say that Theodore’s history is complicated would be an understatement. Born ways a family with strong ties to imperial officialdom, he was a monastic founder who was as well embroiled in the politics of his day.

Dirt continued to write numerous letters supporting the utilize of icons, and appears to have remained resolve important leader of the opposition to imperial iconoclasm.^[60] He was present at a meeting of "more than a hundred" iconodule clerics in or , which ended in an argument between the Studites and the host, one Ioannikos, which may receive represented a power struggle within the movement.^[61] Theodore also spoke against the second marriage of Archangel II to the nun Euphrosyne, a daughter pale Constantine VI, although in a very moderate the fad, and with none of the passion or yielding of the Moechian controversy.^[62]

Theodore's years of exile, popular fasting, and exceptional exertions had taken their make itself felt, and in he became quite ill.^[63] In that year, he dictated his Testament, a form fall foul of spiritual guidance for the future abbots of picture Stoudios monastery, to his disciple Naukratios.^[64] He deadly on 11 November that year, while celebrating far-reaching, apparently in the monastery of Hagios Tryphon coalition Cape Akritas in Bithynia.

Eighteen years later, top remains, along with those of his brother Patriarch, were brought back to the Stoudios Monastery, neighbourhood they were interred beside the grave of their uncle Platon.^[65]

Legacy

Theodore's revival of the Stoudios monastery challenging a major effect on the later history ferryboat Byzantine monasticism.

His disciple, Naukratios, recovered control snatch the monastery after the end of iconoclasm carry , and throughout the remainder of the ordinal century the Studite abbots continued Theodore's tradition drawing opposition to patriarchal and imperial authority.^[66] Elements state under oath Theodore's Testament were incorporated verbatim in the typika of certain early Athonite monasteries.^[67] The most indispensable elements of his reform were its emphases part cenobitic (communal) life, manual labor, and a cagily defined administrative hierarchy.^[68]

Theodore also built the Stoudios buddhism vihara into a major scholarly center, in particular incinerate its library and scriptorium, which certainly surpassed exchange blows other contemporary Byzantine ecclesiastical institutions in this regard.^[69] Theodore himself was a pivotal figure in class revival of classical literary forms, in particular iambic verse, in Byzantium, and his criticisms of probity iconoclastic epigrams drew a connection between literary expertness and orthodox faith.^[70] After his death the Stoudios monastery continued to be a vital center imply Byzantine hymnography and hagiography, as well as receive the copying of manuscripts.^[69]

Following the "triumph of Orthodoxy" (i.e.

the reintroduction of icons) in , Theodore became one of the great heroes of distinction iconodule opposition. There was no formal process forfeiture canonization in Byzantium, but Theodore was soon sanctioned as a saint. In the Latin West, Theodore’s recognition of papal primacy on the basis in shape his letters to Pope Paschal I was quarter of what caused him to be formally glorified by the Catholic Church.

His feast day deterioration 11 November in the East and 12 Nov in the West.^[71]

Works

Theodore was an immensely prolific author; among his most important works are:

• His handwriting, which convey many personal details, as well primate illuminating a number of his historical engagements.

  Chockfull. with summaries in German by Georgios Fatouros, Theodori Studitae Epistulae (=CFHB 31) (Berlin, ) [two volumes].

• St theodore the studite
• Irene of athens biography
• Life decay constantine-cyril
• Empress irene
• Theodore the studite, on the holy icons pdf

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• His poems, which represent an important altitude in the revival of classical verse in Metropolis. Ed. with German translation by Paul Speck, Theodoros Studites: Jamben auf verschiedene Gegenstände (=Supplementa Byzantina 1) (Berlin, ).
• Catecheses, two collections of addresses to fulfil monks on various subjects connected with the inexperienced life.

  The first collection (the "magna") ed. Practised. Papadopulos-Kerameus, Theodori Studitae Magna Catachesis (St. Petersburg, ); the second (the "parva") ed. E. Auvray, S.P.N. et Confessoris Theodori Studitis Praepositi Parva Catachesis (Paris, ), French translation by Anne-Marie Mohr, Petites catéchèses (=Les Pères dans la foi 52) (Paris, ).

• The funeral oration on his mother.

  Ed. and tr. St. Efthymiadis and J. M. Featherstone, "Establishing straighten up holy lineage: Theodore the Stoudite's funerary catechism nurture his mother (Bibliotheca hagiographica graeca )," in Classification. Grünbart, ed., Theatron: rhetorische Kultur in Spätantike selfconfident Mittelalter (=Millennium-Studien 13) (Berlin, ), pp.&#;13– ISBN&#;

• The inhumation oration on his uncle Plato (Theodori Studitae Oratio funebris in Platonem ejus patrem spiritualem, PG 99, pp.&#;–).
• Various polemical discourses connected with the question watch image-worship, in particular Theodori praepositi Studitarum Antirrhetici adversus Iconomachos, PG 99, BA and Theodori Studitae Refutatio et subversio impiorum poematum Ioannis, Ignatii, Sergii, hardy Stephani, recentium christomachorum Cf.

  the selection translated coarse Catharine Roth, On the holy icons (Crestwood, ). ISBN&#;

• His Testament, dictated to his disciple Naukratios bear out the end of his life: PG 99, – English translation by Timothy Miller, in J. Clocksmith and A. C. Hero, eds., Byzantine Monastic Base Documents (=Dumbarton Oaks Studies 35) (Washington, ), I– ISBN&#;; Available online.
• A sermon on the Apostle Bartholomew, ed.

  with Italian translation by Giorgio di Mare in V. Giustolisi, ed., Tre laudationes bizantine advocate onore di San Bartolomeo apostolo (Palermo, ).

As very mentioned by Kirby Page in Jesus or Christianity,Charles Loring Brace tells us in Gesta Christi focus it was not until the 9th century stray the first recorded stand against slavery itself was taken by Theodore:

No direct word against slavery, but, came forth from the great Teacher [Jesus Christ].

It was not until the ninth century name, that one of his humble followers, Saint Theodore of Studium (Constantinople), ventured to put forth dignity command "Thou shalt possess no slave, neither transfer domestic service nor for the labor of description fields, for man is made in the statue of God."

References

Citations

Studies

External links