Homilies from the Menaion for Every Day of the Year: September 11

The Month of September

Day 11

12. On the Reward Awaiting in the Age to Come for Wives Who Patiently Endure Unjust Wrongs in This Life

(From the Life of Venerable Theodora. September Menaion, Sept. 11)

As everyone knows, suffering from slander and enduring undeserved insults and unjust wrongs falls not only upon many men, but equally upon many of you, Christian wives. Yes, so it must be. For example, concerning those who desire to live godly lives, the Apostle says that not merely some of them, but “all,” that is, men and women without distinction, “will be persecuted” (2 Timothy 3:12). And the history that tells not only of martyrs but also of women martyrs, not only of confessors but also of women confessors of the name of Christ, fully confirms this truth.

But that is not our point. What we wanted to speak about specifically is the difference between men and women in enduring these things—slander, insults, and wrongs. A man, being generally stronger and more robust by nature than a woman, will naturally endure suffering more easily, whereas a woman, being weaker and more sensitive in heart than a man, will undoubtedly find it more difficult to bear such things. Therefore, a man suffering from slander, insults, and wrongs may, although with difficulty, stand firm more readily; whereas a woman under their yoke may fall more easily and more quickly than a man. From this, then, it naturally follows that if a woman may fall more readily than a man under the yoke of slander and wrongs, then when she suffers beneath this yoke, she is undoubtedly all the more in need of encouragement and consolation. On this basis, then, we now offer you, wives who suffer from slander, insults, and wrongs, this encouragement and consolation, and we give you strengthening for endurance. What do these consist in? You may see from what we shall relate to you below.

Venerable Theodora, whose memory the Holy Church celebrates on September 11, left the world in her youth and, as circumstances required, entered a men’s monastery called Oktodekati. Appearing at the monastery in men’s clothing, which she had put on in order more easily to conceal herself from those at home who were searching for her, she called herself a young man who desired the monastic life, and she was accepted into the monastery, where she lived under the male name Theodore.

In the monastery she led, as her Life says, an angelic life and became an example to the brethren in obedience, patience, self-restraint, and humility. At first she fasted for one day, then two, then three and four, and at times she spent an entire week without food, remaining in unceasing prayer.

Naturally, the Devil was displeased with such a life of this great ascetic woman, and he began seeking an opportunity to inflict one evil or another upon Theodora, and eventually he succeeded. A wicked young woman slandered her by accusing her of one of the gravest mortal sins, and the slander was so convincingly presented that the abbot and the brethren of the monastery fully believed her, expelled Theodora from the monastery, and she spent seven years outside it in thirst and nakedness, enduring cold and heat without any defense, without any complaint, and with great humility.

After seven years had passed, seeing her extraordinary patience, the abbot and the brethren finally took pity on her and allowed her to return to the monastery, where she lived for another two years and then died.

At the hour of her death, the abbot had the following vision: two radiant men came to him and raised him to the heights of heaven, from where he heard a voice saying to him: “Come and see what I have prepared for My bride Theodora.” And the abbot saw a radiant paradise, the beauty and loveliness of which it is impossible to describe. He was brought inside Paradise, and a bridal chamber was shown to him, with a golden couch prepared within it, and an Angel stood beside it guarding it.

The abbot asked those who had brought him there: “For whom have this bridal chamber and couch been prepared?” They answered: “Wait a little, and you will see the glory of God.”

After some time, the abbot saw hosts of Angels, martyrs, and venerable ascetics proceeding toward the bridal chamber with sacred hymns, and in their midst was a beautiful woman in great glory. They led her to the bridal chamber and seated her upon the couch.

The abbot bowed before the woman in fear. Then one of the Angels said to him: “Do you know who this woman is?”

“I do not know,” the abbot replied.

The Angel continued: “Know that this is your monk Theodore, under whose male name a woman was saved here with you. After living for a short time in marriage, she left the world for the love of God and labored in your monastery. You now know and must understand that she was falsely slandered with one of the gravest sins, and although she could have immediately justified herself and proved her innocence, nevertheless she did not do so, but was innocently expelled from the monastery. She then fed on roots, endured cold and heat, suffered from a lack of clothing, and endured many afflictions from the demons. For all this, God in His mercy honored her in this way, loved her as His bride, and made her an heir of His Kingdom together with all His saints.”

The vision ended there, and the abbot told the brethren about it, and they all went to the deceased. The monks were amazed and terrified when they saw a woman in the dead body of the young man! And, as it is said, “they wept greatly, and buried her honorably in that monastery ... And they held a great feast for many days, glorifying Christ God and magnifying His beloved bride, the Venerable Theodora.” (September Menaion, Sept. 11)

So then, wives who suffer from slander, wrongs, and insults, here is our encouragement, consolation, and strengthening for you in endurance. Do you see what reward awaits you in Heaven if you endure without complaint these slanders, insults, and unjust wrongs? You will be brought into the heavenly Paradise, you will be called brides of Christ, and you will be sharers in His glory.

Is it worth, then, after this, becoming disheartened, despairing, and growing faint because of temporary wrongs and insults? No; rather, you ought to hope and take comfort, thinking upon that great reward which the Lord gives to those who endure slander and wrongs to the end. And is it not He Himself, finally, who by His own words assures you of the certainty of this reward? Yes, He Himself said: “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.”

Therefore, when you encounter wrongs, insults, and slander, then, whatever you may have to endure from them, whatever deprivation and sorrow you may have to experience, rejoice, remembering that by this path of swiftly passing sorrows and privations you are drawing near to the Kingdom of Heaven and gaining a claim to the desired inheritance in the dwellings of the Heavenly Father. Amen.

Questions for Discussion 12:

1. In what was Venerable Theodora an example to the brethren in the monastery?

2. With what did the Angels, martyrs, and venerable ascetics go toward the bridal chamber in the abbot’s vision?

3. What did the abbot do when he saw in the vision the beautiful woman whom they seated upon the couch?

4. For what reason, according to the Angel’s words to the abbot, did Theodora leave the world and labor in the monastery?

5. What awaits us in heaven if we endure slander, insults, and unjust wrongs without complaint?

 

Source: The Cheti-Minei: Homilies for Every Day of the Year (Book 1: September, October, November) by Archpriest Viktor Guryev. Publication of the Russian Panteleimon Monastery on Mount Athos, 1896. Translated by John Sanidopoulos.