11-е

The daughter of rich parents, beautiful in appearance, was given in marriage to a kind young man. The young husband loved his young wife, and their life was an example of a happy married life. Unfortunately, the young rich man fell passionately in love with Theodora. He showered gifts and money, assurances and affection in order to seduce her from the path of duty. She did not succumb to sin. He turned for help to a clever woman who was engaged in deception of various kinds; a corrupt soul took on a young, inexperienced woman; after many satanic seductions, she managed to instill in Theodora the idea that God does not see night sins, and the crime was committed at night. But as soon as the heinous sin was committed, Theodora felt burning repentance. Tormented by her conscience, she could not bear the presence of her husband, her relatives and friends. In vain did she tell herself that her sin was unknown to good people and God. Her conscience convicted her of infidelity to her husband and did not give her peace. Finally, she made a firm decision to run away from home and in a deserted place to atone for the crime with strict repentance. First she appeared at a nunnery, where she was received with love. The abbess, noticing her melancholy, gave her the Gospel to read. When she read here: nothing is covered, it will not be revealed, she was stupefied with horror. Tearing at her hair, she now confessed her crime to the abbess. “If there is a need for repentance,” she said, “then I will break ties with the world and begin to pray to God for mercy.” Fearing that her husband would find her in a nunnery and would not allow her to perform feats of repentance, she decided to hide in a monastery. She came to the Octodecad monastery in men's clothing. The abbot for the first time did not order an answer until the morning. She stayed behind the monastery at night. Then it is said: “You are a young and pampered eunuch, and the rules of the monastery are strict, harsh: it is impossible to accept you.” “I will die of hunger, but I will not leave the monastery,” answered the eunuch. The abbot relented. Theodore is now in the very monastery where the relics of St. Thomaida, who gave her life for maintaining marital fidelity. It is clear how her determination for heroic deeds should have strengthened. It is clear why she wanted to die, but not move away from the walls of the Octodecade. She considered the reception at the Octodecade a sign that her desires to repent were not rejected by heaven. She was entrusted with work in the monastery garden - carrying water where it was needed, and finally - cleaning the entire yard; at the same time, she did not exempt herself from fasting, vigils, private and general prayers. Theodora humbly told herself that, judging by the importance of her crime, the obedience imposed on her was too easy and lenient. She herself wanted to intensify her work and brought her jealousy to the point that she ate food only once a week. Her successes in spiritual exploits attracted the mercy of the Savior to her, and she amazed the abbot and the brethren with her exploits; She was so crucified on the cross of death, constantly falling, like a new harlot, at the feet of Christ, day and night washing them with tears of repentance, that not only was her sin forgiven, but she became at a high degree of spiritual perfection. Divine grace: began to be visibly revealed in her. So, once the crocodile, which devoured people, died at her word. And yet the Lord allowed the ascetic to be under a terrible test. The abbot sent her to the city with camels, on which she was supposed to load oil and bread and return to the monastery; She was ordered, if night fell on the way, to stop at the ninth monastery (it was located nine miles from Alexandria). Here the girl, mistaking Theodora for a man, wanted to persuade her to sin, but having been rejected with humble indignation, she threw herself, in a shameful frenzy, into the arms of some passer-by. Having become pregnant, she, at the insistence of her parents, who wanted to find out who her seducer was, answered that the monk of the ninth monastery was to blame for her crime, and determined the day, part and place where she met him. After filing complaints and carrying out a search in this monastery, they decided that Theodore was the culprit. The monks of the ninth monastery made loud complaints to the abbot of the monastery in which the ascetic lived, demanding strict punishment for insulting all monasticism. The humble Theodora, of course, could have justified herself immediately; but she, deeply feeling her shortcomings before the holiness of God, decided to perfect her soul through voluntary sorrows. She was kicked out of the monastery; she had to hide in a beggar's hut, which she herself had erected near the monastery. When the girl who accused Theodora gave birth, they brought the child to Theodora, as to the father who was supposed to nourish him; she fed this foster child with milk, which neighboring shepherds gave her out of compassion. She herself was content with wild desert herbs, and drank sea water to quench her thirst. How many sorrows did this gentle female soul endure under the hail of ridicule of daring righteousness! What was it worth to endure both the heat of the hot climate and the cold of the damp winter air! Deprived of the right to live with people, she lived with the desert animals. And she endured all this with silent love for seven whole years. Seven years after the expulsion, the monks of the ninth monastery, demanding the punishment of Theodora, came to the abbot who expelled her and asked to accept the repentant eunuch. She was accepted, but on the condition that she locked herself with her child in a secluded cell and would not leave it. This seclusion lasted two years. Shortly before her death, the monastery was suffering a great disaster: due to drought, there was no water in the wells and even in the lake itself. The abbot, having called the brethren, said: “Only Father Theodore, with the grace of God resting on him, can save us.” Calling Theodora from a secluded cell, he ordered her to take a vessel and bring water from the well, which was completely dry. She, with the word: “bless, father,” went and drew water from the well, which instantly filled with water and was not without water during the rest of the drought. Before her death, Theodora offered the most edifying advice to the child, who considered her his father. She exhorted him to stay in the monastery, to be obedient, patient, and helpful. She begged him, never and in any case, not to condemn anyone, to pray for those who sinned, to pray to the only Sinless One, to answer questions modestly, not to defile your lips with either idle or blasphemous words, to serve the monks with love, especially to diligently care for the sick, to resort to God in all sorrows and temptations, and to make a remembrance of her before the Lord, Who has the power to judge not only the sins, but also the righteousness of people. In conclusion, she told her imaginary son that she was entrusting him to Almighty God, who would not leave him, for He is the father and mother of all orphans, a mentor and guide to salvation; These last pieces of advice to her child were heard by some of the monks. After fervent prayer, she rested from her labors. Seeing that she died, the child began to sob loudly; the monks, who heard the teachings and her wondrous last prayer, recounted this to the abbot, but God had already revealed to him both the sex and the spiritual merits of the deceased; the abbot did not want to discover this except in the presence of the hermits of the ninth monastery, for whom he sent. They all arrived and the abbot. The mystery of sex, angelic purity, long, wonderful patience, feats of self-denial, and the innocence of Theodora were solemnly recognized. Providence was pleased to bring her husband to the monastery; he learned only at this time both about the reason for his wife’s removal from home and about her asceticism; deeply struck by the example, he left the world, selling his property, became a monk, settled in Theodora’s cell and was buried in the same grave with her. The child grew in virtue and subsequently became the abbot of this very monastery. Blessed Theodora labored under Emperor Zeno (474–490). 104 Saint Paphnutius the Confessor, Bishop of the city of Thais Saint Paphnutius the Confessor, Bishop of the city of Thais, in Upper Thebaid. During the persecution of Maximin (311), this bishop had his right eye gored and the knee of his right leg, which he was dragging, was broken. Subsequently, he was a member of the First Ecumenical Council and was highly respected by Emperor Constantine. When at this council some of the Western bishops demanded that priests and deacons lead a celibate life, Paphnutius, although he himself was a virgin, pointed out the inconsistency of this with the ancient tradition of the Church and remarked: “do not impose a heavy yoke; so as not to cause harm to the Church through excess severity. It is enough if someone who has already entered the clergy, according to ancient legend, does not marry.” The Council agreed with the opinion of Paphnutius. Paphnutius died peacefully in the 4th century. Menologist of Vasily on 11 September. The same time of exploits in the abbreviated Menologue and in the Roman Martyrology of Baronia, who says: “having sinned carelessly, she repented of her offense, in the clothes of a monk, maintained amazing abstinence and patience until death, lived under the emperor. Zevone." The Copts have 11 September. "Blessed Theodora"