Theodosius of Palestine, St.
THEODOSIUS OF PALESTINE, ST.
Sixth-century monastic leader also called "the Cenobiarch"; b. Mogarissus or Garissus in Cappadocia, ca. 423; d. Jan. 11, 529. Theodosius entered a monastery at Jerusalem and placed himself under the ascetic Longinus at the Tower of David. Desiring a more secluded life, he went to the monastery of the Cathisma of the Theotokos (between Jerusalem and Bethlehem). Through the favor of its founder, the pious lady Ikelia, he was given the administration of the monastery. Unwilling to be a hegoumenos, he fled to a grotto at Metopa. There he received many persons, including the influential official Acacius, who gave him the funds with which he built a hostel and a cenobium. His ascetic fame earned him election as archimandrite of the cenobite monks of Jerusalem. With the Patriarch of Jerusalem sabas, he strongly opposed monophysitism, and for this reason the Emperor anastasius i exiled Theodosius. On the death of Anastasius, Theodosius returned to his monastery for the rest of his life.
Feast: January 11.
Bibliography: cyril of scythopolis, Leben des Theodosios, ed. e. schwartz 235241. theodore of petra, Vie de saint Théodosios, tr. a.–j. festugiÈre (Paris 1963); Der heilige Theodosios, ed. h. usener (Hildesheim 1975).
[w. e. kaegi, jr.]