St. Theodore, 9th century anti-iconoclast

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St Theodore (Russian: Святой Феодор начертанный) (died 820)

Feast Days: 11 November (Catholic Church), 27 December (Orthodox Church)

Born in Constantinople in a family with strong connections to the Orthodox Church. Ordained in 787, in 794 becomes abbot of the Symboleon monastery in Bythinia, later escapes from Saracen raids to Constantinople and becomes an abbot there. Clashes with successive emperors (Constantine VI, Nicephorus I, Leo V the Armenian, Michael II the Stammerer) on the issue of iconoclasm (then for the second time in accendancy in the Empire but strongly opposed by St Theodore). Suffers imprisonement and exile, writes profusely in defence of the Orthodoxy. Dies in exile in Bithynia in the Akrita monastery founded by him.

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