Editing Theodore of Tarsus (section)

==Early life==
Theodore was of [[Greeks|Greek]] descent and was born in [[Tarsus in Cilicia]], a Greek-speaking diocese of the [[Byzantine Empire]].<ref>
{{harvnb|Bunson|2004|p=881}}; {{harvnb|Bowle|1979|p=160}}; {{harvnb|Bowle|1971|p=41}}; {{harvnb|Ramsey|1962|p=2}}; {{harvnb|Johnson|Zabel|1959|p=403}}.
</ref> Theodore's childhood saw [[Byzantine–Sasanian War of 602–628|devastating wars]] between Byzantium and the Persian [[Sassanid Empire]], which resulted in the capture of [[Antioch]], [[Damascus]], and [[Jerusalem]] in 613–614. Persian forces captured Tarsus when Theodore was 11 or 12 years old, and there is evidence that Theodore had experience of Persian culture.<ref>
{{harvnb|Lapidge|1995|loc=Chapter 1: "The Career of Archbishop Theodore", pp. 8–9}}</ref> It is most likely that he studied at [[Antioch]], the historic home of a distinctive school of [[exegesis]], of which he was a proponent.<ref>{{harvnb|Lapidge|1995|loc=Chapter 1: "The Career of Archbishop Theodore", p. 4}}</ref> Theodore also knew Syriac culture, [[Syriac language|language]] and [[Syriac literature|literature]], and may even have travelled to [[Edessa, Mesopotamia|Edessa]].<ref>{{harvnb|Lapidge|1995|loc=Chapter 1: "The Career of Archbishop Theodore", pp. 7–8}}</ref> The Syriac ''Acts'' of St. [[Miles (bishop of Susa)|Milus of Persia]], which was incorporated into the [[Old English Martyrology]], was probably brought to England by Theodore.{{sfn|Stevenson|1998|p=256}}

Though a Greek could live under Persian rule, the [[Early Muslim conquests|Muslim conquests]], which reached Tarsus in 637, certainly drove Theodore from Tarsus; unless he fled even earlier, Theodore would have been 35 years old when he left his birthplace.<ref>{{harvnb|Lapidge|1995|loc=Chapter 1: "The Career of Archbishop Theodore", p. 10}}
</ref> Having returned to the Eastern Roman Empire, he studied in the Byzantine capital of [[Constantinople]], including the subjects of astronomy, ecclesiastical [[computus]] (calculation of the date of Easter), astrology, medicine, Roman civil law, Greek rhetoric and philosophy, and the use of the horoscope.<ref>{{harvnb|Lapidge|1995|loc=Chapter 1: "The Career of Archbishop Theodore", pp.&nbsp;17–18}}</ref>

At some time before the 660s, Theodore had travelled west to Rome, where he lived with a community of Eastern monks, probably at the monastery of St. Anastasius.<ref>{{harvnb|Lapidge|1995|loc=Chapter 1: "The Career of Archbishop Theodore", pp. 21–22}}</ref> At this time, in addition to his already profound Greek intellectual inheritance, he became learned in Latin literature, both sacred and secular.<ref>{{harvnb|Bede|Plummer|1896|loc=4.1}}</ref> The [[Synod of Whitby]] (664) having confirmed the decision in the [[Anglo-Saxon Church]] to follow Rome, in 667, when Theodore was aged 66, the see of Canterbury happened to fall vacant. [[Wighard]], the man chosen to fill the post, unexpectedly died. Wighard had been sent to [[Pope Vitalian]] by [[Ecgberht of Kent|Ecgberht]], king of [[Kingdom of Kent|Kent]], and [[Oswiu of Northumbria|Oswy]], king of Northumbria, for consecration as archbishop. Following Wighard's death, Theodore was chosen by Vitalian upon the recommendation of [[Adrian of Canterbury|Hadrian]] (later abbot of St. Peter's, [[Canterbury]]). Theodore was consecrated archbishop of Canterbury in Rome on 26 March 668, and sent to England with Hadrian, arriving on 27 May 669.{{sfn|Chisholm|1911}}