St. Theodosius the Cenobiarch

Saint Theodosius the Cenobiarch

Abbot & Confessor

Theodosius was born to devout Christian parents in Cappadocia in the year of Our Lord 423. He was ordained a lector at a young age, but then departed for Jerusalem, feeling called to leave the comforts of home and family. Theodosius went out of his way to visit the famed St. Simeon the Stylite, a hermit living alone atop a pillar in the desert, and he gained much spiritual insight from that great saint before continuing to Jerusalem. Theodosius desired guidance from and obedience to a superior, and thus chose a monastery over the eremitical life; but when he was prevailed upon to lead a church, he fled to live as a hermit after all, in the same cave where the Magi had slept after the Epiphany. Yet his holiness attracted followers, and eventually Theodosius assented to beginning a monastery of his own, where the holy abbot led his monks in a “cenobitic” or communal monastic life. He was later made superior of all such communities in the region, which gave him his title of “Cenobiarch”. After a life of holy leadership, strict asceticism, miracle-working, and great suffering from afflictions and persecutions, Theodosius died at the age of one hundred and five, and was buried in his original cave.

Traditional Roman Martyrology for January 11th

AT Borne, the birthday of St. Hyginus, pope, who suffered a glorious martyrdom in the persecution of Antoninus.

In Africa, blessed Salvius, martyr, on whose birthday St. Augustine preached to the people of Carthage.

At Alexandria, the holy martyrs Peter, Severus, and Leucius.

At Fermo, in the Marches, St. Alexander, bishop and martyr.

At Amiens, St. Salvius, bishop and martyr.

At Brindisi, St. Leucius, bishop and confessor.

In Cappadocia, in a village called Magariassum, St. Theodosius, abbot, who, after great sufferings for the Catholic faith, finally rested in peace.

In Thebais, St. Palaemon, abbot, who was the teacher of St. Pachomius.

At Suppentonia, near Mount Soractes, the holy monk Anastasius, and his companions, who were called by a voice from heaven to enter the kingdom of God.

At Pavia, St. Honorata, virgin.

℣. And elsewhere many other holy martyrs, confessors, and holy virgins.

℟. Thanks be to God.