Saint Theodora the Armenian of Constantinople (Whirledge) Icon - S669

Saint Theodora was born in Paphlagonia, along the Black Sea coast in Asia Minor, about the year 815. The daughter of a military commander, she is believed to have been of Armenian descent. When Theodora was about 15 years old, she was selected to participate in a bridal show for the 18-year-old Roman Emperor Theophilos. She was selected by him by means of an apple, and they were married in the Hagia Sophia cathedral in 830.

Unbeknownst to Theophilos (who was an ardent iconoclast), Theodora venerated the holy icons as a devoted iconodule. Throughout his 13 year reign, Theophilos persecuted the iconodules. Theodora kept her icons a secret and taught their children to reverence them. Theophilos died in 842, leaving Theodora as the Empress Regent for their two-year-old son Michael III.

The following year, she called a council of the Church to restore the veneration of icons. The Council of Constantinople upheld the Seventh Ecumenical Council and deposed iconoclast clergy. In the first week of Lent, she prayed and fasted for the repose of her husband. Then, on the first Sunday of Lent, a vast procession of icons was held, and the icons were restored to their proper place in the churches. This annual tradition has continued in the Orthodox Church ever since.

Theodora governed the Empire well until 856, when her son Michael III deposed her. She accepted the act and retired to a monastery. She lived out the rest of her life in holiness and reposed in the Lord in 867. Saint Theodora came to be popularly venerated and was numbered among the saints by the Church. Her feast day was established on February 11.

In this icon, the scroll she holds contains part of the Synodikon of Orthodoxy from the Seventh Ecumenical Council that she upheld as Empress. The text reads, "This is the Faith that has established the universe."

This icon is offered by Legacy Icons with the permission of the iconographer, Brian Matthew Whirledge.