Daily Readings

On this day of the year 247 A.D., a holy synod convened in the city of Alexandria in the second year of the Papacy of St. Dionysius, the fourteenth Pope of Alexandria. This council was convened because certain people appeared in the Arabian countries who believed that the spirit dies with the body, and that on the day of the resurrection, they shall be raised up together. They composed an extensive article on this belief and sent it to certain Christians in Alexandria.

When this reached Abba Dionysius he took interest in this matter, so he assembled this synod, and he debated with them revealing their erroneous opinion. When he saw their insistence on their corrupt view, the Pope excommunicated them.

He wrote a treatise said in it, "The spirit neither dies nor perishes, but abides as the angels for it is spiritual, immutable, and incorruptible. When the spirit goes forth from the body it is taken to a place according to its worthiness either to paradise or to Hades. And on the day of the resurrection, the spirit will be united with its body. When the Archangel sounds the trumpet, the bodies shall rise by the order of its creator. The spirits reunite with the body it belongs, some to everlasting joy and some to everlasting contempt forever and ever.

The blessing of the prayers of this honored Pope be with us all, Amen.

on this day also of the year 226 of the Martyrs (510 A.D.) St. Theodora of Alexandria departed. She was born in the fifth century of the birth of Our Lord, during the reign of Emperor Zinon, from noble parents in Alexandria. Along her youthful beauty she lived a virtuous life and she was rich. She married a pure and rich young man. Their lives were filled with peace and joy.

In the middle of the rich life style, a certain rich young man was captivated by her beauty, wisdom and being caring. He was pure and righteous and he became fond of her. The evil the enemy of good started after a while to plant in him evil and lustful thoughts for Theodora. These temptations increased until the young man found a chance and revealed his feeling to her. Theodora was shocked for she saw in him purity and chastity and she rebuked him. Few days passed and their lustful feelings intensified until they fell in the sin of fornication. No one realized what happened since everyone knew their purity.

Theodora soon came to her senses and realized the seriousness of her fall. She became furious with herself as she could not bear her guilt. With tears flowing from her eyes, she told her husband what had happened. Her husband did not know what to do for he trusted his wife and his friend. Their life turned to a life of sorrow and unceasing tears. Finally, she decided to leave the world so she can spend the rest of her days in repentance.

She shaved her hair and dressed herself in men’s clothes and went at night to the Ennaton monastery (Al-Zugag). She went to a men’s monastery, since she feared that her husband would find her in a community of women. She asked the abbot of the monastery to accept her. In order to test her, the monastery’s abbot did not permit her to enter. St. Theodora spent the night at the gate in the severe cold. In the morning the abbot found her eyes puffy from much crying, so he allowed her to join the monastery and she was known as the monk Theodore or Tadros.

The saint lived in this monastery; her work was to take care of the monastery’s gardens and farming the field, enduring all hardship with joy and happiness, in unceasing prayers. She was known for her obedience, humility, and intense asceticism. God granted her the gift of performing miracles and her fame spread. Many came to the monastery asking for her blessings and prayers.

Her husband was continually grieving for her, not knowing where she is. He was yearning to know and be assured of her salvation. He offered tearful prayers. During his sorrow the angel of the Lord appeared to him and asked him to go to the church of St. Peter, the Seal of Martyrs, to find her alone beside the church. When he went there he did not find her but only found a monk driving some camels. She was Theodora who her husband did not recognize for her appearance had changed because of her austere asceticism. She recognized him and saluted him and he replied her salutation without recognizing her.

When the enemy of good saw that she escaped his snares, he moved an evil adulterous woman who went to the abbot of the monastery complaining that the monk Theodore has defiled her chastity. The saint endured with complete submission the mockery that she was subjected to without defending herself, so no one might know her secret. When the infant was born, they brought him to the monastery. The abbot entrusted the infant into the care of the saint, throwing her out of the monastery in disgrace. She faced many difficulties, hardships and pains for the sake of this innocent child seeing in it the expiration of her former sin.

She settled with the child not far from the monastery in a hut. The shepherds out of pity gave her milk for the infant and the saint herself ate only wild vegetables. Bearing her misfortune St. Theodora spent seven years in banishment. Finally at the request of the monks, the abbot allowed her to return to the monastery with the child for what she showed from steadfast and repentance. The abbot had her under severe punishments and asked her to remain in seclusion in her cell with her son and not to meet anyone outside of the church.

Before her death, she instructed the son, attributed to her, saying to him: My son the sun of my life is about to set but I leave you in the hands of a merciful Father who is the God of all orphans. I hope that the abbot of the monastery does not forsake you, and the monks would have compassion on you. My son search not for your kinship and family for the best relationship is what we gain from virtues. Do not seek the glory of the world, for the Lord Christ has said; “Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kind of evil against you falsely for My sake.” (Mat 5:11) Pray for the sinners, be a help for the weak, serve your ken as if he is your master, so you will be accepted before the Lord Christ for He took the form of a servant for our sake.

By the will of God the abbot of the monastery was outside her cell listening to these advices. So he became convinced that this monk was falsely accused. He knocked on the door to come in and be blessed by that monk before his departure. When he entered the cell he found that his spirit has already departed from him.

The monks came to the body of the monk Theodore to express their regrets. When they started to prepare the body for burial, they realized that he was a woman. They were exceedingly sorrowful and marveled. The news spread at once in all Alexandria and many came asking for her blessings.

Her husband realized that she was his wife. He entreated the abbot of the monastery to accept him as a monk to complete the rest of his days in her cell. As for the child he grew in grace and everyone loved him. Later on he was chosen to be the abbot of the monastery.

The blessing of her prayers be with us all and glory be to our God forever. Amen