Theodosia 2

Prosopography of the Byzantine Empire
SexF
FloruitE/M VIII
ReligionChristian;
Iconophile
LocationsConstantinople (residence);
Constantinople;
Chalke (Gate of, Constantinople);
Ox (Forum of the, Constantinople);
Dexiocrates (Palace of, Constantinople) (burialplace);
Constantinople (birthplace)
Textual SourcesMenologium Anonymi Byzantini, ed. B. Latyshev, 2 vols. (St Petersburg, 1911-12) (hagiography);
Passio Theodosiae (BHG 1773y), ed. B. Latyshev, Menologium Anonymi Byzantini (St Petersburg, 1911-12), II 186-188 (hagiography)

The Life and Martyrdom of Theodosia 2 are described in the Menologium, ed. Latyshev, II 186-188, under 19 July. A native of Constantinople, where she was born and brought up; her parents are described as well born, devout and wealthy (γονέων ἐξ εὐγενῶν καὶ πιστῶν καὶ βίον πολυτάλαντον κεκτημένων); she flourished in the reign of the emperor Constantine V Copronymus (Konstantinos 7): Passio Theodosiae 1.

On the death of her parents in the reign of Constantine V (Konstantinos 7), Theodosia 2 received the tonsure and became a nun, giving away to the poor all her inherited wealth; in course of time she acquired a reputation for her austere lifestyle: Passio Theodosiae 2. In the early stages of the iconoclast controversy, she was one of the leading opponents of iconoclasm and was among the leaders of the band of pious women who dragged down from his ladder and killed the spatharios ordered by Konstantinos 7 (according to the Passio) to remove the icon above the Chalke; they also cursed and anathematised the iconoclast patriarch Anastasios (Anastasios 2); Theodosia 2 was seized by soldiers angry at the death of the spatharios and was dragged all the way to the Place of the Ox along the ground, beaten and torn, until she was struck on the neck by one of the soldier's with a ram's horn and killed; they regarded her as one of the ringleaders (ὡς ἀρχηγὸν τῆς συμμορίας ἐκείνης): Passio Theodosiae 3-4. She was buried by Christian hands (i.e. by fellow opponents of iconoclasm) near the palace of Dexiokrates (ἔγγιστά που τῶν Δεξιοκράτους), where she performed countless miracles, too many to be narrated, expelling demons, curing illnesses and soothing grief: Passio Theodosiae 5. The chronology of the Passio is misleading; the removal of the Chalke icon occurred under Leo III (Leo 3), when Konstantinos 7 was only co-emperor. The Passio dates the event after the overthrow of the patriarch Germanus (Germanos 8) and under his successor Anastasius (Anastasios 2). The author of the Passio seems to have dated the removal of the icon to the sole reign of Konstantinos 7.

(Publishable link for this person: )