Saint Theodorus of Apamea

Biography

Saint Theodorus of Apamea, also known as Theodorus the Branded or Theodorus the Lettered-Upon, was born around the year 775 in Kerak, Moab (Trans-Jordan). He was the son of Venerable Jonah the Presbyter and the brother of Saint Theophanes of Nicaea. Not much is known about Saint Theodorus' early life, but it is believed that he grew up in Jerusalem as a pious youth. He joined the monastery at Saint Sabas' Laura in Jerusalem, where he became known for his intelligence and his strict adherence to the monastic rule. Saint Theodorus became a strong defender of sacred images during a time of iconoclasm, a movement that rejected the use or veneration of religious images. In the early 9th century, the Byzantine Emperor Leo V the Armenian began persecuting those who supported the use of icons. Saint Theodorus, along with his brother Theophanes, was persecuted for their beliefs. As a priest, Saint Theodorus was sent as an emissary of the Patriarch to the court in Constantinople in an attempt to persuade Emperor Leo not to interfere in ecclesiastical matters. However, the emperor had Saint Theodorus scourged, and then banished both him and his brother Theophanes to a barren island in the Black Sea. After the death of Emperor Leo, the brothers were able to return to their monastery in 820. However, their plight worsened when the iconoclast Emperor Theophilus came to power in 829. Once again, they were tortured and banished. In 831, they were recalled to Constantinople and given the opportunity to discuss their beliefs with the iconoclasts, in the hope that they would change their minds. However, they refused to renounce their faith, and as a result, their tormentors took two days to cut a 12-line iambic verse into their foreheads. Saint Theodorus and his brother Theophanes were then tortured once again and finally banished to Apamea, Bithynia. It is believed that Saint Theodorus died in prison, most likely around the year 841, as a result of the privations he experienced during imprisonment. He is considered a martyr for his unwavering faith in the face of persecution. Saint Theodorus of Apamea is commemorated on December 27th. Although there is no specific patronage associated with him, he is honored as a defender of sacred images and a symbol of steadfastness in the face of religious oppression. Saint Theodorus is remembered for his unwavering fidelity to his beliefs and for his willingness to endure suffering for the sake of his faith.