09/11/2026 – Життя Святих / Lives of the Saints
Прп. Теодори Олександрійської
Venerable Theodora of Alexandria
The Synaxarion (Lives of the Saints):
Saint Theodora of Alexandria lived happily with her husband, but, deceived by the devil and persuaded by another woman, she fell into adultery. Soon she deeply repented of her sin and, seeking God’s forgiveness, went to an abbess who encouraged her to trust in God’s mercy.
Determined to atone for her sin through prayer and repentance, Theodora secretly left her home, dressed as a man, and entered a men’s monastery under the name Theodore. She lived there for eight years with extraordinary humility, fasting, prayer, and self-denial.
During a journey, the daughter of another monastery’s igumen attempted to seduce Theodore, but the saint firmly refused her. The woman later became pregnant by another man and falsely accused Theodore of being the father. Believing the accusation, the monks expelled the innocent saint and gave her the newborn child.
Theodora humbly accepted this suffering as penance for her former sin. She lived for seven years in a small hut, caring for the child with great hardship and prayer. Eventually, she was allowed to return to the monastery and spent her final years raising and instructing the child in the faith.
Before her death, Theodora taught the child to love God, obey the brethren, live humbly and peacefully, and remain faithful to prayer. She then peacefully departed to the Lord.
After her death, God revealed the truth to the igumen: Theodore was actually Theodora, and her former sin had been forgiven. The monks repented with tears for the injustice they had committed.
Her former husband later became a monk in the same monastery, and the child she had raised followed her example and eventually became its igumen.
Saint Theodora of Alexandria, pray to God for us!