Saint Theodorus of Tabennese

Life story

According to the early biographies, Theodorus was born around 314 in Egypt to a wealthy Christian family. At fourteen he left home in secret to enter a monastery, and later sought out Pachomius, who had set up communal monastic life in Upper Egypt. Orthodox sources say that when his mother came to Tabennese with a bishop's letter asking to see him, he refused because of his monastic vow. The same sources explain the epithet the Sanctified by saying he was the first monk of his monastery to be ordained a priest.

The sources do not describe his relationship with his teacher in quite the same way. Orthodox accounts say that around the age of twenty he was asked to teach Scripture to the brothers and was then made overseer of the Tabennese monastery. Modern scholarship, working from the monastic biographies, notes that Pachomius repeatedly restrained or demoted him and gave him no formal authority during his lifetime. Even so, he was counted among the master's closest disciples and was at his bedside when he died.

Pachomius died around 348 (some sources say 346). In the modern account Theodorus was not chosen to succeed him at once: Petronios and then Horsiesios headed the federation. When it began to fracture, Theodorus took over its running in practice for roughly eighteen years, and he is credited with keeping it from collapse. Sources also say he knew Athanasius of Alexandria. He died in 368. Three Coptic instructions and two short letters are attributed to him, though they reveal little about the man himself. His feast is kept on 16 May.

Works and witness

• Entered a monastery at fourteen and later joined Pachomius's community
• According to Orthodox sources, taught Scripture and oversaw the Tabennese monastery
• Directed the federation of monasteries for years after Pachomius died
• Credited with preventing the federation from breaking apart
• Died in 368

Saints from the same country

Saint Anthony of Egypt, Saint Athanasius, Saint Cyril of Alexandria, Saint Catherine of Alexandria

References

• Orthodox Church in America, Lives of the Saints: Venerable Theodore the Sanctified (16 May)
• Catholic Encyclopedia (New Advent): 'Eastern Monasticism Before Chalcedon' and 'Thebaid'
• Wikipedia article on Theodorus of Tabennese (read in full; Pachomian succession, c. 314-368, writings)

Written by Anawim from documented history. Some details about ancient saints rest on tradition and are marked as such.