Editing Theodore the Studite (section)

===Family and childhood===
Theodore was born in [[Constantinople]] in 759.{{sfn|Chisholm|1911|p=769}} He was the oldest son of [[Photeinos (fl. 8th century)|Photeinos]], an important financial official in the [[Byzantine aristocracy and bureaucracy|palace bureaucracy]],<ref>He is described as ''tamias tōn basilikōn phorōn'', "administrator of the imperial monies," a position that seems to have been equivalent to the ''basilikos [[sakellarios]]''. He was therefore an extremely high-ranking official with a close relationship to the emperor himself. ({{harvnb|Pratsch|1998|pp=18–21}})</ref> and [[Theoktiste (740–802)|Theoktiste]], herself the offspring of a distinguished Constantinopolitan family.<ref>Theodore emphasizes the high standing of her parents, Sergios and Euphemia, who died in the plague of 747/48. ({{harvnb|Pratsch|1998|pp=26–27}})</ref> The brother of Theoktiste, Theodore's uncle [[Plato of Sakkoudion|Platon]], was an important official in the imperial financial administration.<ref>He was a ''[[Zygostates (Byzantine official)|zygostates]]'', a position for which he was trained by his own uncle. ({{harvnb|Pratsch|1998|pp=27–28}})</ref> The family therefore controlled a significant portion, if not all, of the imperial financial administration during the reign of [[Constantine V]] (r. 741–775).<ref>{{harvnb|Pratsch|1998|pp=62–63 (including footnote #175)}}.</ref> Theodore had two younger brothers ([[Joseph I of Thessalonica|Joseph]], later [[Archbishop of Thessalonica]], and Euthymios) and one sister, whose name we do not know.<ref>{{harvnb|Pratsch|1998|pp=28–29}}.</ref>

It has often been assumed that Theodore's family belonged to the [[iconodule]] party during the first period of [[Byzantine Iconoclasm]]. There is however no evidence to support this, and their high position in the imperial bureaucracy of the time renders any openly iconodule position highly unlikely. Furthermore, when Platon left his office and entered the priesthood in 759, he was ordained by an abbot who, if he was not actively iconoclastic himself, at the very least offered no resistance to the iconoclastic policies of Constantine V. The family as a whole was most likely indifferent to the question of icons during this period.<ref>{{harvnb|Pratsch|1998|pp=42–45}}.</ref>

According to the later hagiographical literature, Theodore received an education befitting his family's station and from the age of seven was instructed by a private tutor, eventually concentrating in particular on theology. It is however not clear that these opportunities were available to even the most well-placed Byzantine families of the eighth century, and it is possible that Theodore was at least partially an autodidact.<ref>{{harvnb|Pratsch|1998|pp=67–69}}.</ref>