St. Theodora - The Syriac Empress of Byzantine +548

St. Theodora - The Syriac Empress of Byzantine +548

June 28 is the commemoration of the dukhrono of St. Theodora the Syriac Empress of Byzantine +548 according to the Liturgical Calendar of the Syriac Orthodox Church. Mort Theodora was born in the Syriac town of Mabug in 500AD. She was the daughter of a Syriac Orthodox priest originally from the village of Kamua in the Azal mountain adjacent to the modern day Syrian district of Jazirah. She grew up in a Christian environment & was taught the Orthodox faith. Her father passed way when she was only 7 years old. Theodora was very beautiful & also highly intelligent. Her persona & character caught the eye of Justinian the son of then Roman emperor Justin. Justinian was so enamored with Theodora that he even appealed against the Roman Law forbidding royalty from marrying a non-roman, so they could be together. Following the demise of Justin, Justinian & Theodora were jointly crowned Emperor & Empress. They were sworn in with equal rights & authority to govern the empire. Her tact & political acumen were highly praised, the famous example being her courageous resolve during the Nika revolt. She was highly respected in the empire & laws passed had her approval as well. Theodora improved the empire by building bridges, aqua ducts, hospitals, homeless shelters & churches. She was instrumental in rebuilding St. Constantine's Church of the Holy Apostles in Constantinople making it second only to Hagia Sophia in both size & prominence. Emperor Justinian was a promoter of the Chalcedonian theology & even began persecuting the Orthodox miaphysites. However, Empress Theodora remained steadfast in the Syriac Orthodox faith & as such Chalcedonian historian Procopius tried to malign her legacy. She built an Miaphysite monastery in Sykae near present day Istanbul. The Chalcedonian faith became the official faith of the Empire & those who rejected Chalcedon were persecuted. Many died as a result of the severity of persecution & still others were exiled. In this crucial period, God sent to the Church Mor Ya`qub Burd`ono (d. A.D. 578), one of the greatest & foremost among the leaders of the Syriac Orthodox Church. Mor Ya`qub Burd`Ono protected the Syrian Orthodox faith & encouraged its followers to preserve the Orthodox faith that it received from the righteous Apostles & Fathers. Mor Ya`qub went to Constantinople & was received with great honor by Empress Theodora. Theodora helped the non-Chalcedonian Syriac & Coptic bishops, who were being persecuted, executed or exiled. She accommodated countless bishops in her original home palace, thereby reducing their suffering perpetuated by the Byzantine State. She was instrumental in getting Pope Theodosius I enthroned in Alexandria. Sadly, Imperial troops soon forced Pope Theodosius & the faithful to exile. But Theodora brought them safely to live in her palace. With the support of the Ghassanid King(The Ghassanids were an ethnic Arab Syriac Orthodox kingdom), Theodora managed to get Mor Yac'ub Burd'ono ordained as universal bishop by Patriarch Theodosius I to spread the Orthodox faith & ordain clergy. She even outmaneuvered Justinian by sending miaphysite missionaries to certain parts of the empire when she learnt Chalcedonian missionaries appointed by Justinian were on their way. Her faith & conviction played a key role on protecting the true faith. On her death bed she asked Justinian to protect all those non-Chalcedonians who sought refuge in her palace, a promise he kept. She passed away in AD 548 & was buried in the Church of the Holy Apostles where countless other emperors including St. Constantine & Justinian were also entombed. (The Church was sadly demolished by Ottomans to build Fatih Mosque) The legacy of Empress Theodora lives on both in the history of royalty & of the Church. An Empress having equal authority was unheard of till then, women generally seen as unfit to rule. Her integrity, intellectual prowess & political acumen made her a role model for women across the empire & even today she stands as an inspiration for young girls to lead a life of conviction. The miaphysite faithful especially the Syriac Orthodox Church with her assistance were able to exist & grow even in the midst of great suffering. The thrice blessed Patriarch late HH Mor Ignatius Zakka I of blessed memory describes Mort Theodora as, "the woman who symbolizes the glory of the Syriac Church & who rules over our hearts, coming second to the Virgin Mary in status, dignity and honor. Biography courtesy, 'Martyrs, Saints and Prelates of the Syriac Orthodox Church' Oh Mort Theodora! Plead for us before God's throne of grace. Amen http://www.soc-wus.org/ourchurch/St.%20Theodora%20Empress.htm