Theodora of Alexandria
Theodora of Alexandria | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Miniature of Saint Theodora in the Menologion of Basil II (11c.) | |
| Desert Mother | |
| Born | 5th century |
| Venerated in | Eastern Orthodox Church, Oriental Orthodox Church, Roman Catholic Church, Anglican Church |
| Feast | 11 September 5 January (Episcopal Church) |
Theodora of Alexandria was a saint and martyr who lived during the 5th century.[1] According to legend, her husband was Gregory, prefect of Egypt, whom she left "out of remorse for the adultery that she committed with another man"[1] and "to do penance for a sin she had committed". She clothed herself as a male and disguising herself as a eunuch, lived for the rest of her life as a monk at a monastery in the Thebaid. Her identity as a woman was not discovered until after her death.[1][2]
A rare image of Theodora in Western art is a print by Bernardino Capitelli, made in 1627 for Theodora Costa dal Pozzo, showing the saint disguised as a monk and caring for the child she was accused of fathering (Vienna: Graphische Sammlung Albertina).[3]
Theodora is honored with a Lesser Feast (with Sarah, and Syncletica) on the liturgical calendar of the Episcopal Church in the United States of America[4] on 5 January.[5]
This saint lived in the fifth century. , she fled from her husband's house, renamed herself Theodore, clothed herself as a man, and pretending to be a eunuch, entered a monastery of men. Her identity as a woman was discovered only after her death.
References[edit]
- ^ a b c "Theodora the Martyr of Alexandria". Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America. New York. Retrieved 1 May 2024.
- ^ Delaney, John J. Dictionary of Saints (2nd ed.). New York: Doubleday. p. 590. ISBN 0-385-51520-0. Retrieved 1 May 2024.
- ^ Bonaccorso, Patrizia (1985). Bernardino Capitelli, 1589–1639. Siena: Edisiena. pp. 32–38.
- ^ "Lesser Feasts and Fasts 2018".
- ^ "Sarah, Theodora, and Syncletica of Egypt". satucket.com. Retrieved 13 April 2021.
- Eastern Orthodox saints
- Late Ancient Christian female saints
- 5th-century Christian saints
- 5th-century Byzantine people
- Byzantine female saints
- Cross-dressing saints
- Roman-era Alexandrians
- Saints from Roman Egypt
- Byzantine saints
- 5th-century Byzantine women
- 5th-century Egyptian people
- 5th-century Egyptian women
- Anglican saints