Editing Theodore the Studite (section)

===Final years===
Following his release, Theodore made his way back to Constantinople, travelling through north-western Anatolia and meeting with numerous monks and abbots on the way. At the time he appears to have believed that the new emperor, [[Michael II]] (r. 820–829), would adopt a pro-icons policy, and he expressed this hope in two letters to Michael.<ref>{{harvnb|Pratsch|1998|pp=263–267}}.</ref> An imperial audience was arranged for a group of iconodule clerics, including Theodore, at which however Michael expressed his intention to "leave the church as he had found it." The abbots were to be allowed to venerate images if they so wished, as long as they remained outside of Constantinople. Theodore returned to Anatolia, in what seems to have been a sort of self-imposed exile.<ref>{{harvnb|Pratsch|1998|pp=268–271}}.</ref>

Theodore's activities in his final years are somewhat difficult to trace. He continued to write numerous letters supporting the use of icons, and appears to have remained an important leader of the opposition to imperial iconoclasm.<ref>{{harvnb|Pratsch|1998|p=278}}.</ref> He was present at a meeting of "more than a hundred" iconodule clerics in 823 or 824, which ended in an argument between the Studites and the host, one Ioannikos, which may have represented a power struggle within the movement.<ref>{{harvnb|Pratsch|1998|pp=281–288}}.</ref> Theodore also spoke against the second marriage of Michael II to the nun Euphrosyne, a daughter of Constantine VI, although in a very moderate fashion, and with none of the passion or effect of the Moechian controversy.<ref>{{harvnb|Pratsch|1998|pp=278–281}}.</ref>

Theodore's years of exile, regular fasting, and exceptional exertions had taken their toll, and in 826 he became quite ill.<ref>{{harvnb|Pratsch|1998|p=288}}.</ref> In this year, he dictated his ''Testament'', a form of spiritual guidance for the future abbots of the Stoudios monastery, to his disciple Naukratios.<ref>{{harvnb|Thomas|Hero|Constable|2000|loc=I.68}}.</ref> He died on 11 November that year, while celebrating mass, apparently in the monastery of Hagios Tryphon on Cape Akritas in Bithynia. Eighteen years later, his remains, along with those of his brother Joseph, were brought back to the Stoudios Monastery, where they were interred beside the grave of their uncle Platon.<ref>{{harvnb|Pratsch|1998|pp=288–291}}.</ref>