Saint Theodore of Studium

Saint Theodore of Studium , 759-826, Byzantine Greek monastic reformer, also called St. Theodore the Studite. As an abbot he was early exiled for opposing the marriage of Emperor Constantine VI to his mistress Theodota. In 799 he entered the Studium monastery, which he reformed and made the model monastery of the Byzantine rite. He was exiled again (809-11) after long quarrels with Nicephorus I, and by Leo V when he opposed him (814). His influence was critical in the history of the Basilian monks . His writings deal with the monastic life and with iconoclasm. St. Theodore wrote many hymns, and his letters are extant.

Bibliography: See A. Gardner, Theodore of Studium (1905, repr. 1974). Feast: Nov. 11.

Theodore of Studios, St (759–826). Christian monastic reformer. In 799 the community of which he was abbot at Saccudium, moved to the monastery of Studios at Constantinople. This monastery, founded in 463, had followed the rule of the Acoemetae, but had become almost extinct under the Iconoclast emperor Constantine V. Under Theodore, however, it became the centre and model of E. monasticism. He was a man of personal sanctity and strong determination, and is widely venerated in the Orthodox Church. Feast day, 11 Nov.