Today January 11

Today is the feast of Theodosius the Cenobiarch (423 - 529). He was ordained a "reader," which position was a minor order, but as an avid reader, I like the name! He resolved to visit the fabulous St. Simeon the Stylite, who received him and foretold many things about him, but Theodosius didn't want to follow in his footsteps. He chose instead to join a community of monks and avail himself of a spiritual guide, but he at first balked at having to serve women (in their church on the high road to Bethlehem). I don't think his reluctance had anything to do with them being "mere women," but with the contemporary idea that the ideal monk neither looked at nor spoke to women -- ever. But he was obedient, and it turned out not to be so bad, or sinful.

Not long after, though, he retired to a lonely hermitage. Soon he had lots of company; it was necessary to build a communal monastery -- the monks being called cenobites, thus, their leader, the Cenobiarch. He made several important decisions: one was never to refuse any who came to him to be a monk (a radical decision in those days), and the other to just trust in God, even if there were no resources. This latter was the context of a miracle: one Easter the monks (they were 12 in number) had nothing to eat. Theodosius prayed and a mule train loaded with provisions appeared. They all had a magnificent Easter feast.

He built three hospices: one for the sick, one for the old, and one for the mentally ill. Interestingly, the cause for the mental illness of many of the patients was an over-indulgence in penances! All were treated with respect and kindness, fed and cared for by the ever-growing community of gentle monks.

He also built four churches: one for each of the different languages spoken, so all could hear the Mass and prayers in the vernacular and one for the mentally ill, who were recovering separately.

He defended Church teaching even when it wasn't popular: he defended the two natures of Christ in one Person despite the heavy-handedness and popularity of the Eutychian heresy and its adherents, including the Emperor Anastasius. This Emperor tried to bribe him (didn't work) and tried to banish him (he [the Emperor] died before it could go into effect).

Theodosius died in his 105th year, after a year-long illness. St. Theodosius, pray for us.