Our Venerable Mother Theodora of Alexandria.
Theodora was from Alexandria and the
wife of a young man. Persuaded by a fortune-teller, she committed
adultery with another man and immediately felt the bitter pangs of
conscience. She cut her hair, dressed in men's clothing and entered
the Monastery of Octodecatos, under the male name of Theodore. Her
labor, fasting, vigilance, humbleness and tearful repentance amazed
the entire brotherhood. When a promiscuous young woman slandered her,
saying that Theodore had made her pregnant, Theodora did not want to
justify herself, but considered this slander as a punishment from God
for her earlier sin. Banished from the monastery, she spent seven
years living in the forest and wilderness and, in addition, caring
for the child of that promiscuous girl. She overcame all diabolical
temptations: she refused to worship Satan, refused to accept food
from the hands of a soldier, and refused to heed the pleas of her
husband to return to him-for all of this was only a diabolical
illusion, and as soon as Theodora made the sign of the Cross
everything vanished as smoke. After seven years, the abbot received
her back into the monastery, where she lived for two more years, and
reposed in the Lord. Only then did the monks learn that she was a
woman; an angel appeared to the abbot and explained everything to
him. Her husband came to the burial, and then remained in the cell of
his former wife until his repose. St. Theodora possessed much grace
from God: she tamed wild beasts, healed infirmities, and brought
forth water from a dry well. Thus, God glorified a true penitent, who
with heroic patience repented nine years for just one sin. She
reposed in the year 490.
Today we also remember St. Autonomous, because of the leave-taking tomorrow.
Respectfully Taken From the:
"The Prologue of Ohrid"
by St. Nikolai of Zica, Serbia(Velimirovic)
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