A Dictionary of Greek and Roman biography and mythology

70. TABENNENSIS, abbot of Tabenna, was born about A. D. 314, at Latopolis in the Thebaid. He belonged to a Christian family of station and wealth. As his mother is frequently mentioned, but not his father, it would appear that she was left a widow while Theodorus was still young. He had two brothers, Macarius and Paphnutius, who were also monks at Tabenna. Macarius was older than Theodorus, and his half-brother. Theodorus appears to have addicted himself to ascetic rules of living at a very early age. When not more than thirteen or fourteen years old, he joined some recluses, and was soon afterwards introduced to Pachomius at Tabenna, by whom he was received with great favour, and under whom he is said to have made rapid advances in all monastic virtues. His example seems to have induced his mother to enter a convent which Pachomius had established. Notwithstanding his youth, Theodorus was employed by Pachomius to supply his place in instructing the other monks, and even the great master himself professed to derive edification from the discourses of his young disciple. He also took him with him, or sent him alone, to visit and

inspect the other monasteries which looked to him as their superintendent. When he was about thirty years of age, Pachomius appointed him to supply his place in the monastery at Tabenna, while lie himself retired to another. When his end approached, however, in order, as it is said, to try the humility of Theodorus, he appointed a man of the name of Petronius as his successor. Petronius died not long afterwards, appointing Orsisius as his successor. The latter soon found himself incapable of maintaining the discipline of the monastery with sufficient vigour, and appointed Theodorus in his room. There is extant a letter of Theodorus, translated into Latin by St. Jerome, inviting all the recluses of the order to assemble at a neighboring monastery to celebrate the festival of Easter. Theodorus on various occasions had epistolary and personal communication with Athanasius, who is said to have manifested great regard for him. Theodorus died April 27, A. D. 367. He is regarded as a saint by the Greek Church; his memory being honoured on the 16th of May, in order to connect him with Pachomius. A large collection of somewhat dull stories about Theodorus will be found in Tillemont (Hist. Eccles. vol. vii. pp. 469-499).