Editing Theodore of Tarsus

{{Short description|Archbishop of Canterbury from 668 to 690, Christian saint}} 
{{distinguish|Diodore of Tarsus}}
{{Use British English|date=June 2013}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2024}}
{{Infobox Christian leader
| honorific-prefix = [[Saint]]
| name             = Theodore of Tarsus
| honorific-suffix = 
| archbishop_of    = Archbishop of Canterbury
| image            = Saint Theodore of Tarsus stained glass at St John the Evangelist, Knotty Ash.jpg
| imagesize        = 160px
| alt              = 
| caption          = Stained glass depiction of Theodore at {{awrap|St John the Evangelist Church}}, Liverpool
| title            = [[Archbishop of Canterbury]]
| ended            = 19 September 690
| predecessor      = [[Wighard]]
| successor        = [[Berhtwald]]
| ordination       = 
| consecration     = 26 March 668
| other_post       = 
| birth_name       = 
| birth_date       = 602
| birth_place      = [[Tarsus, Mersin|Tarsus]], [[Byzantine Empire]]
| death_date       = 19 September 690
| death_place      = 
| buried           = [[Canterbury]]
| nationality      = 
| religion         = 
<!----------Sainthood---------->
| feast_day        = 19 September<ref name=ODS496/>
| venerated        = {{ubl|[[Catholic Church]]|[[Eastern Orthodox Church]]|[[Anglican Communion]]}}
| canonized_date   = [[Pre-Congregation]]
}}

'''Theodore of Tarsus''' ({{langx|el|Θεόδωρος Ταρσοῦ}}; 602{{snd}}19 September 690)<ref name=ODS496>{{harvnb|Farmer|2004|pp=496–497}}</ref> was [[Archbishop of Canterbury]] from 668 to 690. Theodore grew up in [[Tarsus, Mersin|Tarsus]], but fled to [[Constantinople]] after the Persian Empire conquered Tarsus and other cities. After studying there, he relocated to Rome and was later installed as the Archbishop of [[Canterbury]] on the orders of [[Pope Vitalian]]. Accounts of his life appear in two 8th-century texts. Theodore is best known for his reform of the English Church and establishment of a school in Canterbury.<ref>{{Citation |last=Keynes |first=Simon |title=The Kingdoms of Anglo-Saxon England (450–1066) |date=2023 |url=https://www.cambridge.org/core/books/cambridge-constitutional-history-of-the-united-kingdom/kingdoms-of-anglosaxon-england-4501066/A46D26F58E8710602093C61F41D6C766 |work=The Cambridge Constitutional History of the United Kingdom: Volume 2: The Changing Constitution |volume=2 |pages=6–8 |editor-last=Kumarasingham |editor-first=H. |publisher=Cambridge University Press |doi=10.1017/9781009277105.002 |isbn=978-1-009-27710-5 |editor2-last=Cane |editor2-first=Peter}}</ref>

==Sources==
Theodore's life can be divided into the time before his arrival in Britain as Archbishop of Canterbury, and his archiepiscopate. Until recently, scholarship on Theodore had focused on only the latter period since it is attested in [[Bede]]'s ''[[Historia ecclesiastica gentis Anglorum|Ecclesiastical History of the English]]'' (''c'' 731), and also in [[Stephen of Ripon]]'s ''[[Vita Sancti Wilfrithi]]'' (early 700s), whereas no source directly mentions Theodore's earlier activities. However, [[Bernard Bischoff (historian)|Bernard Bischoff]] and [[Michael Lapidge]] reconstructed his earlier life based on a study of texts produced by his Canterbury School.

==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}}

==Archbishop of Canterbury==
Theodore conducted a survey of the English church, appointed various bishops to sees that had lain vacant for some time,<ref>{{Cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_r_aEAAAQBAJ |title = Penitential (Poenitentiale) |isbn = 9798868900105 |last1 = Curtin|first1 = D. P.|date = July 2013|publisher = Dalcassian Press }}</ref><ref>{{harvnb|Bede|Plummer|1896|loc=4.2 (Appointments: [[Bifus|Bisi]] to [[Bishop of the East Angles|East Anglia]], Aelfric Putta to [[Bishop of Rochester|Rochester]], [[Hlothhere]] to [[Bishop of Wessex|Wessex]], and [[Ceadda]] after reconsecration to [[Bishop of Mercia|Mercia]])}}</ref> and then called the [[Council of Hertford|Synod of Hertford]] (673) to institute reforms concerning the proper calculation of [[Easter]], episcopal authority, itinerant monks, the regular convening of subsequent synods, marriage and prohibitions of consanguinity, and other matters.<ref>{{harvnb|Bede|Plummer|1896|loc=4.5 (Canons of Hertford)}}</ref>
He also proposed subdividing the large diocese of Northumbria, a policy which brought him into conflict with [[Wilfrid]], who had become Bishop of York in 664. Theodore deposed and expelled Wilfrid in 678, dividing his diocese in the aftermath. The conflict with Wilfrid was settled only in 686–687.{{sfn|Chisholm|1911}}

In 679 [[Aelfwine of Deira|Aelfwine]], the brother of King [[Ecgfrith of Northumbria]], died in battle fighting against the Mercians. Theodore's intervention prevented the escalation of the war and resulted in peace between the two kingdoms,{{sfn|Chisholm|1911}} with King [[Æthelred of Mercia]] paying ''[[weregild]]'' compensation for Aelfwine's death.<ref>{{harvnb|Bede|Plummer|1896|loc=4.21}}</ref>

==Canterbury School==
[[File:Staugustinescanterburygravetheodore.jpg|thumb|200px|Gravesite of Theodore at St. Augustine's Abbey, Canterbury.]]
Theodore and Hadrian established a school in Canterbury, providing instruction in both Greek and Latin, resulting in a "golden age" of Anglo-Saxon scholarship:<ref name="Bede 1896 loc=4.2">{{harvnb|Bede|Plummer|1896|loc=4.2}}</ref>

:They attracted a large number of students, into whose minds they poured the waters of wholesome knowledge day by day. In addition to instructing them in the Holy Scriptures, they also taught their pupils poetry, [[astronomy]], and the calculation of the church calendar&nbsp;... Never had there been such happy times as these since the English settled Britain.

Theodore also taught sacred music,<ref name="Bede 1896 loc=4.2"/> introduced various texts, knowledge of Eastern saints, and may even have been responsible for the introduction of the [[Litany of the Saints]], a major liturgical innovation, into the West.<ref>{{harvnb|Bischoff|Lapidge|1994|p=172}}.</ref> Some of his thoughts are accessible in the Biblical Commentaries, notes compiled by his students at the Canterbury School.<ref>{{harvnb|Bischoff|Lapidge|1994}}.</ref> Of immense interest is the text, recently attributed to him, called ''[[Laterculus Malalianus]]''.<ref>{{harvnb|Stevenson|1995}}</ref> Overlooked for many years, it was rediscovered in the 1990s, and has since been shown to contain numerous interesting elements reflecting Theodore's trans-Mediterranean formation.<ref>{{harvnb|Siemens|2007|pp=18–28}}</ref> A record of the teaching of Theodore and Adrian is preserved in the [[Leiden Glossary]].{{sfn|Lapidge|2006|pp=33, 87–88}}

Pupils from the school at Canterbury were sent out as [[Benedictine]] abbots in southern England, disseminating the curriculum of Theodore.<ref>{{harvnb|Cantor|1993|p=164}}</ref>

Theodore called other synods, in September 680 at [[Hatfield, Hertfordshire]], confirming English orthodoxy in the [[Monothelite]] controversy,<ref>{{harvnb|Collier|Barham|1840|p=250}}</ref><ref>* {{cite book |last=Curtin |first=D.P. |year=2025 |title=Council of Hatfield: 680 AD |publisher=Dalcassian |isbn=979-8-348-25896-2 }}</ref> and circa 684 at Twyford, near [[Alnwick]] in Northumbria. Lastly, a [[Paenitentiale Theodori|penitential]] composed under his direction is still extant.

Theodore died in 690 at the age of 88, having held the archbishopric for twenty-two years. He was buried in Canterbury at the church known today as [[St Augustine's Abbey]]; at the time of his death it was called St. Peter's church.

==Veneration==
Like the archbishops of Canterbury before him, Theodore is venerated as a saint; his saint's day is 19 September in the [[Eastern Orthodox Church|Orthodox Church]],<ref name="Saint Theodore of Tarsus, Archbishop of Canterbury">{{cite web |title=Saint Theodore of Tarsus, Archbishop of Canterbury |url=https://www.oca.org/saints/lives/2023/09/19/102671-saint-theodore-of-tarsus-archbishop-of-canterbury |website=OCA.org |publisher=Orthodox Church in America |access-date=13 October 2023 |language=English}}</ref> [[General Roman Calendar#England|Catholic Church]],<ref>{{Cite web|title=Saint Theodore of Tarsus|url=http://www.moodycatholic.com/Saints_St_Theodore_of_Tarsus.html|access-date=31 July 2021|website=www.moodycatholic.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=bEq7DwAAQBAJ |title=Lesser Feasts and Fasts 2018 |date=17 December 2019 |publisher=Church Publishing, Inc. |isbn=978-1-64065-235-4 |language=en}}</ref> and Anglican churches. He is also recorded on this day in the [[Roman Martyrology]]. Canterbury also recognises a feast of his ordination on 26 March.<ref name=ODS496/>

==References==
===Citations===
{{reflist}}

===Sources===
{{refbegin|2|indent=yes}}
*{{cite book|author1=Bede|author1-link=Bede|last2=Plummer|first2=Charles|title=Historiam ecclesiastica gentis Anglorum: Historiam abbatum; Epistolam ad Ecgberctum; una cum Historia abbatum auctore anonymo|year=1896|location=Oxford|publisher=e Typographeo Clarendoniano}}
*{{cite book|last1=Bischoff|first1=Bernhard|last2=Lapidge|first2=Michael|title=Biblical Commentaries from the Canterbury School of Theodore and Hadrian|location=Cambridge|publisher=University Press|year=1994|isbn=0-521-33089-0}}
*{{cite book| last=Bowle| first=John| title=The English Experience: A Survey of English History from Early to Modern Times| location=London| publisher=Weidenfeld and Nicolson| year=1971| isbn=9780297003175| url=https://books.google.com/books?id=i8MIAQAAMAAJ}}
*{{cite book| last=Bowle| first=John| title=A History of Europe: A Cultural and Political Survey| location=London| publisher=Secker and Warburg| year=1979| isbn=9780436059063| url=https://books.google.com/books?id=HfsTAQAAMAAJ}}
*{{cite book|last=Bunson|first=Matthew|title=OSV's Encyclopedia of Catholic History|location=Huntington, Indiana|publisher=Our Sunday Visitor Publishing|year=2004|isbn=1-59276-026-0|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=dWpO1--eMrYC}}
*{{cite book|last=Cantor|first=Norman F.|title=The Civilization of the Middle Ages: A Completely Revised and Expanded Edition of Medieval History, the Life and Death of a Civilization|location=New York|publisher=HarperCollins|year=1993|isbn=0-06-017033-6|url=https://archive.org/details/civilizationofmi00cant|url-access=registration}}
*{{Cite EB1911|wstitle=Theodore (archbishop)|volume=26|page=766}}
*{{cite book|last1=Collier|first1=Jeremy|last2=Barham|first2=Francis Foster|title=An Ecclesiastical History of Great Britain (Volume 1)|location=London|publisher=William Straker|year=1840|url=https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_1o03AAAAMAAJ}}
*{{cite book|last=Farmer|first=David Hugh|title=Oxford Dictionary of Saints|publisher=University Press|year=2004|edition=Fifth|location=Oxford|isbn=978-0-19-860949-0|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Ry3TCQAAQBAJ}}
*{{cite book| last=Lapidge| first=Michael| title=Archbishop Theodore: Commemorative Studies on his Life and Influence| location=Cambridge| year=1995| publisher=University Press| isbn=0-521-48077-9}}
*{{cite book|last=Lapidge|first=Michael|author-link=Michael Lapidge|title=The Anglo-Saxon Library|url=https://archive.org/details/anglosaxonlibrar00lapi/page/n47|url-access=registration|year=2006|publisher=University Press|location=Oxford|isbn=978-0-19-923969-6}}
*{{cite book| last=Ramsey| first=Michael| title=Constantinople and Canterbury: A Lecture in the University of Athens: 7 May 1962| publisher=S.P.C.K.| year=1962| url=https://books.google.com/books?id=eJtIAAAAMAAJ}}
*{{cite journal| last=Siemens| first=James R.| title=Christ's Restoration of Humankind in the ''Laterculus Malalianus'', 14|journal=The Heythrop Journal |volume=48|issue=1|pages=18–28|year=2007|doi=10.1111/j.1468-2265.2007.00303.x}}
*{{cite book| last=Stevenson| first=Jane| title=The 'Laterculus Malalianus' and the School of Archbishop Theodore| location=Cambridge| publisher=University Press| year=1995| isbn=0-521-37461-8}}
*{{cite journal |first=Jane |last=Stevenson |title=Ephraim the Syrian in Anglo-Saxon England |journal=Hugoye: Journal of Syriac Studies |volume=1 |issue=2 |year=1998 |pages=253–272 |doi=10.31826/hug-2010-010116 |s2cid=188096286 |doi-access=free }}
{{refend}}

===Further reading===
{{refbegin|2|indent=yes}}
*{{cite book|last1=Earle|first1=J. J.|last2=Plummer|first2=Charles| title=Anglo-Saxon Chronicle| location=Oxford| year=1899}}
*{{cite book|last1=Haddan|first1=Arthur West|last2=Stubbs|first2=William|last3=Wilkins|first3=David| title=Councils and Ecclesiastical Documents Relating to Great Britain and Ireland| volume= 1| location=Oxford| publisher=Clarendon Press| year=1869|isbn=9780790548586 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7yARAAAAYAAJ}}
*{{cite book|last1=Johnson|first1=Edgar Nathaniel|last2=Zabel|first2=Orville J.| title=An Introduction to the History of Western Tradition| volume= 1|publisher=Ginn|year=1959|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=WcsYAAAAYAAJ}}
*{{cite book|last1=Raine|first1=James|last2=Stephanus|first2=Eddius| title=The Historians of the Church of York and its Archbishops, Issue 71, Volume 1|chapter=Vita Wilfridi Episcopi auctore Eddio Stephano|location=London|publisher=Longman & Co| year=1879| url=https://books.google.com/books?id=2lXSAAAAMAAJ}}
{{refend}}

==External links==
{{Portal|Saints}}
* {{PASE|2537|Theodore 1}}
*[https://oca.org/saints/lives/2013/09/19/102671-st-theodore-of-tarsus-the-archbishop-of-canterbury St Theodore of Tarsus the Archbishop of Canterbury (OCA)]
*[https://www.santiebeati.it/dettaglio/70810 Santiebeati]
*[https://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=2220 Catholic Online]

{{s-start}}
{{s-rel| [[Christianity|Christian]] titles }}
{{s-bef|before=[[Wighard]]<br />(vacant four years)}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Archbishop of Canterbury]] | years=668–690}}
{{s-aft| after=[[Berhtwald]] }}
{{s-end}}

{{Anglo-Saxon saints}}
{{Archbishops of Canterbury}}
{{Authority control}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:Theodore Of Tarsus}}
[[Category:602 births]]
[[Category:690 deaths]]
[[Category:Kentish saints]]
[[Category:Archbishops of Canterbury]]
[[Category:7th-century archbishops]]
[[Category:7th-century Byzantine people]]
[[Category:7th-century Christian saints]]
[[Category:People from Tarsus, Mersin]]
[[Category:7th-century writers in Latin]]
[[Category:7th-century English writers]]
[[Category:English people of Greek descent]]