Hierarch 7th century

Saint Theodore Archbishop of Constantinople

died c. 686-687

Also known as Theodore of Constantinople

A priest of Hagia Sophia and keeper of its sacred vessels who became Archbishop of Constantinople, his episcopacy interrupted by exile and restoration.

Feast Day

December 27

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Commemorated as

Our Father among the Saints Theodore, Archbishop of Constantinople

Life

Saint Theodore was a native of Constantinople who, according to the synaxarion, led a pious life and was ordained a priest serving in the cathedral of Hagia Sophia, where he held the office of keeper of the sacred vessels. From this clerical service he was raised to the patriarchal throne of Constantinople in the latter part of the seventh century. He is commemorated on December 27.

His episcopacy was interrupted: after roughly two years he was deposed and removed from the throne, and only later restored. The Orthodox Church in America's synaxarion relates that he was deposed because of slander, that the truth eventually triumphed, and that he was restored to the patriarchal throne, remaining patriarch to the end of his life. The dates given for these events vary somewhat among sources, but they agree that his tenure was divided into two periods separated by a forced departure.

Theodore lived during a turbulent period for the Byzantine capital and Church, his first patriarchate coinciding with the Arab siege of Constantinople (674-678) and with the theological controversy over Monothelitism that the Sixth Ecumenical Council (681) would condemn. He died in peace, by the common reckoning around the years 686 to 687.

Contributions & Legacy

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Service at Hagia Sophia

Before his elevation, Theodore served among the clergy of the Great Church of Hagia Sophia. The sources name him keeper of its sacred vessels, the office of skeuophylax, the cleric charged with the custody and protection of the liturgical vessels and treasures of the cathedral. Greek tradition also records that he held the office of synkellos, a close adviser to the patriarch who was frequently regarded as a designated successor.

From this position within the patriarchal household he was chosen to succeed to the throne of Constantinople itself. The synaxaria relate that he was prevailed upon to accept the office rather than seeking it, being constrained by the emperor and the synod to take up the patriarchate after the death of his predecessor.

Deposition and Restoration

Theodore's first tenure lasted only about two years before he was removed from the throne. The OCA synaxarion attributes his deposition to slander and presents his later vindication and restoration as the triumph of truth. Other accounts in the Greek tradition connect his removal to the dispute over Monothelitism and his eventual return to the throne to his confession of Orthodoxy; the Sixth Ecumenical Council met under his successor and condemned the Monothelite teaching.

After his removal he was in due course restored to the patriarchal throne, and the sources agree that he held it until the end of his life, dying in peace.

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