Saint Theodora was empress of the Byzantine Empire in the 9th century, as wife of the Emperor Theophilos. (Note that there is another "Saint Theodora the Empress"- the Emperor Justinian's wife, who lived in the 6th century). She is acclaimed for defeating the iconoclast heresy, which was very influential in her time. In fact, her husband, the Emperor Theophilos was an iconoclast. Theophilos died at only 29, so Saint Theodora ruled the Byzantine empire as regent for their 2-year-old son until her came of age. The Byzantine empire flourished under her regency.
Every year on the first Sunday of Lent, Orthodox Christians celebrate the "Sunday of Orthodoxy" to commemorate Saint Theodora's victory over the iconoclasts.
In this episode we discuss the iconoclast controversy, and read writings by the 7th ecumenical council, by Saint John Damascene, and by Saint Methodius I of Constantinople about the vital role of icon veneration in Christianity. We also go through Saint Theodora's life (drawing heavily on the book,Byzantine Empresses: Women and Power in Byzantium AD 527-1204 byLynda Garland) and reflect on her struggle against this iconoclast heresy.
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