Hierarch14th century

Saint Theodore Archbishop of Rostov

c. 1340s – November 28, 1394

Also known as Theodore · John

A nephew of Saint Sergius of Radonezh who entered monastic life young and became Archbishop of Rostov, known for church building, iconography, and pastoral service.

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Life

Saint Theodore, Archbishop of Rostov (died 1394), was a nephew of Saint Sergius of Radonezh who entered monastic life as a boy and rose to become a monastery founder, iconographer, and hierarch of the Russian Church. Born John, he was the son of Stephen, Saint Sergius's brother, who served in an important post under Prince Andrew of Radonezh before being widowed and becoming a monk.

Brought at the age of twelve to Saint Sergius's monastery, John was tonsured with the name Theodore and there learned Greek and the painting of icons. With his uncle's blessing he founded the Simonov Monastery on the Moskva River, guided a generation of ascetics, served as confessor to Great Prince Demetrios of the Don, and undertook church missions to Constantinople before being consecrated Archbishop of Rostov in 1387.

Kontakion & Troparion4 hymnsReadHide

KontakionTone 2

(Podoben: “You sought the heights...”) O Hierarch Theodore,
divine thunder, spiritual trumpet, planter of faith, and pruner of heresies,
great favorite of the Trinity, as you stand before God with the Angels,
pray unceasingly for all of us.

Text used with permission of the Orthodox Church in America (oca.org).

TroparionTone 4

The truth of things revealed you to your flock as a rule of faith,
a model of meekness, and a teacher of temperance.
Therefore, through humility, you attained the heights;
and through poverty, riches.
O Hierarch Theodore our Father, entreat Christ God that our souls may be saved.

Text used with permission of the Orthodox Church in America (oca.org).

TroparionTone 4

From your youth you were raised well, by labor, abstinence, fasting, and prayer,
you made your soul pure and blameless.
Therefore, you ascended the hierarchal throne
and, as a bright star, you enlighten the hearts of the faithful with the rays of your miracles,
O Hierarch Theodore our Father,
and now entreat Christ God,
that our souls may be saved.

Text used with permission of the Orthodox Church in America (oca.org).

TroparionTone 5

From your youth, O most wise one, you labored diligently,
and with the blessing of the Holy Spirit
you built the great Monastery of the Most Holy Theotokos in honor of her Nativity;
and with the streams of your tears you drowned the bodiless enemies
and immersing your life in chastity you were joined to the assembly of Angels,
O Venerable Father Theodore,
with them you pray to Christ God for the salvation of our souls.

Text used with permission of the Orthodox Church in America (oca.org).

Timeline6 momentsReadHide

c. 1350sTonsure at the monastery of Saint SergiusLeft a widower, Stephen (brother of Saint Sergius of Radonezh) became a monk and brought his twelve-year-old son John to the monastery. Saint Sergius, who foresaw the boy's ascetical life, tonsured him with the name Theodore on the feast of Saint Theodore the Hair-Shirt Wearer (April 20). At the monastery Theodore learned the Greek language and how to paint icons.
1370Founding of Simonov MonasteryWith the blessing of Saint Sergius, Theodore built a church in honor of the Nativity of the Most Holy Theotokos and founded a monastery on the banks of the Moskva River at a place called Simonovo. He built a cell five versts from the Moscow Kremlin and attracted disciples, pursuing new ascetical labors.
1379Relocation to Novoe SimonovoMetropolitan Alexis authorized construction of a Dormition church at Novoe Simonovo, with foundations laid in 1379; the monastery relocated northeast a short distance. The original site became the burial ground for warriors killed at the Battle of Kulikovo, including Alexander Peresvet.
1384First journey to ConstantinopleOn his first journey to Constantinople on church business, Patriarch Neilos made Theodore an Archimandrite, and Simonov Monastery was placed directly under the Patriarch, becoming stavropegial (under patriarchal jurisdiction).
1387Consecration as Archbishop of RostovTheodore was consecrated Archbishop and occupied the See of Rostov, where he founded the Nativity of the Theotokos Monastery. He occupied himself with iconography, adorning Simonov Monastery and many Moscow churches with icons he painted himself.
November 28, 1394ReposeThe blessed repose of the saint occurred on November 28, 1394. His relics are kept in the Rostov Dormition Cathedral.

Contributions & Legacy

4 contributionsReadHide

Family and Formation

Theodore was born John, the son of Stephen, brother of Saint Sergius of Radonezh, who held an important position under Prince Andrew of Radonezh. After being widowed, Stephen entered monastic life and brought his twelve-year-old son to Saint Sergius's monastery.

Saint Sergius tonsured the boy with the name Theodore on the feast of Saint Theodore the Hair-Shirt Wearer (April 20), foreseeing his ascetical calling. At the monastery Theodore acquired the Greek language and the art of icon painting, formation that shaped his later work as both a hierarch and an iconographer.

Monastic Founder and Spiritual Father

With Saint Sergius's blessing, Theodore founded the Simonov Monastery on the Moskva River, building first a church of the Nativity of the Theotokos and later a cell five versts from the Moscow Kremlin, where disciples gathered. As Igoumen and then Archimandrite, he guided many notable ascetics.

Among those tonsured at Simonov Monastery were Saints Cyril (commemorated June 9) and Therapon (commemorated May 27), the future founders of two famous monasteries at White Lake. Great Prince Demetrios of the Don (Dmitry Donskoy) chose Theodore as his father confessor.

According to a later account, the Simonov Monastery was said to take its name from Simeon Khovrin, a boyar of Greek extraction who took monastic vows there under the name Simon, having formerly owned the land. The monastery grew into one of the richest and most famous in the region, comprising several major churches and many icons; a white-stone cathedral was built at the site in 1405.

Missions to Constantinople and Episcopacy

Theodore made multiple journeys to Constantinople on church business. On his first, in 1384, Patriarch Neilos elevated him to Archimandrite and placed Simonov Monastery directly under patriarchal jurisdiction as a stavropegial house.

In 1387 he was consecrated Archbishop and occupied the See of Rostov, where he also founded the Nativity of the Theotokos Monastery. Throughout his episcopacy he continued to paint icons, adorning both Simonov Monastery and many churches of Moscow with his own work.

Relics and Veneration

Saint Theodore reposed on November 28, 1394, and his relics rest in the Rostov Dormition Cathedral. Though he was venerated locally in the fifteenth century, his general veneration was discontinued in the nineteenth century before being formally restored in 1912.

Liturgical texts honor him as a hierarch raised from youth by labor, abstinence, fasting, and prayer, ascending to the hierarchal throne, and celebrate his building of the monastery of the Nativity of the Theotokos.

Companions1 figureShowHide

Whom he received into the monastic life at his Simonov Monastery.

Venerable CyrilAbbot of White Lake

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Sources: OCA Synaxarion (oca.org), Lives of the Saints