We commemorate on May 3rd, the death of our Venerable Father, Theodosius. Saint Theodosius the Great lived during the fifth-sixth centuries, and was the founder of cenobitic monasticism. He was endowed with a splendid voice & toiled at church reading and singing. He yearned for the solitary life & settled in Palestine into a desolate cave, in which, according to tradition, the three Magi had spent the night, having come to worship the Savior after His Nativity. He lived there 30 years in great abstinence and unceasing prayer. People flocked to the ascetic, wishing to live under his guidance. When the cave could no longer hold all the monks, praying he took a censer with cold charcoal and incense, the monk started walking into the desert. When the charcoal ignited by itself and the incense smoke began to rise, he established the first cenobitic monastery, or Lavra (meaning “broad” or “populous”). Soon the Lavra of St Theodosius became renowned for its service to giving aid to the poor and providing shelter for wanderers. He died peacefully in the year 1074 at age 105.
The Gospel Reading for his commemoration is Luke 6:17-23, which is as follows: “17 He then came down with them and stopped at a piece of level ground where there was a large gathering of his disciples, with a great crowd of people from all parts of Judaea and Jerusalem and the coastal region of Tyre and Sidon 18 who had come to hear him and to be cured of their diseases. People tormented by unclean spirits were also cured, 19 and everyone in the crowd was trying to touch him because power came out of him that cured them all. 20 Then fixing his eyes on his disciples he said: How blessed are you who are poor: the kingdom of God is yours. 21 Blessed are you who are hungry now: you shall have your fill. Blessed are you who are weeping now: you shall laugh. 22 ‘Blessed are you when people hate you, drive you out, abuse you, denounce your name as criminal, on account of the Son of man. 23 Rejoice when that day comes and dance for joy, look!-your reward will be great in heaven. This was the way their ancestors treated the prophets.” (from Catholic On-line.)
