Her life is known mostly from a short hagiography written by the monk Job, sometimes identified with the late-13th century cleric Job Iasites. In view of the many chronological and genealogical errors however, this identification is open to question.[1][2]
Theodora was the daughter of the sebastokratorJohn Petraliphas, governor of Thessaly and Macedonia. She was born in Thessaloniki[3] sometime between 1210 and 1216, and married Michael II Komnenos Doukas, the ruler of Epirus and Thessaly shortly after his accession in 1231, while still a child.[4][5] Despite her being pregnant with Michael's son Nikephoros, she was soon banished from the court by her husband, who preferred to live with his mistress. Living in poverty, she endured her hardship without complaint, sheltered by a priest from the village of Prinista. Her exile lasted for five years, after which Michael repented and called her back to him. The couple thereafter lived together.[4][6]
As consort of Epirus, Theodora is reported to have favoured closer ties with Epirus' traditional rival for the succession of the Byzantine imperial heritage, the Empire of Nicaea. She is also recorded by the contemporary historian George Akropolites as accompanying her son Nikephoros for his betrothal and later his marriage to Maria, the daughter of the Nicaean emperor Theodore II Laskaris (r. 1254–1258). The rapprochement brought about a settlement of the two realms' ecclesiastical disputes and led to the conferment of the title of despotes on Michael, but did not last long.[7][8]
Theodora also founded the convent of St. George in the Epirote capital, Arta, where she retired after Michael's death, and where she was buried. It later became known as the Church of St. Theodora, and her tomb became the site of pilgrimage, as many miracles have been attributed to it. She is the patron saint of Arta,[9] and is commemorated by the Orthodox Church on March 11.[4][10]
Family
By her marriage with Michael she had six children, including:
Talbot, Alice-Mary (1996). "A Saintly Empress: Saint Theodora of Arta". Holy Women of Byzantium: Ten Saints' Lives in English Translation]. pp. 323–333. ISBN0-88402-241-2.
theodora, arta, theodora, petraliphaina, greek, Θεοδώρα, Πετραλίφαινα, canonized, saint, greek, Αγία, Θεοδώρα, της, Άρτας, 1225, after, 1270, consort, epirus, orthodox, christian, saint, fresco, saint, reliquary, saint, byzantine, church, arta, greece, content. Theodora Petraliphaina Greek 8eodwra Petralifaina canonized as Saint Theodora of Arta Greek Agia 8eodwra ths Artas ca 1225 after 1270 was a consort of Epirus and an Orthodox Christian saint Fresco of Saint Theodora of Arta Reliquary of Saint Theodora of Arta Byzantine church of St Theodora of Arta in Arta Greece Contents 1 Life 2 Family 3 References 4 SourcesLife EditHer life is known mostly from a short hagiography written by the monk Job sometimes identified with the late 13th century cleric Job Iasites In view of the many chronological and genealogical errors however this identification is open to question 1 2 Theodora was the daughter of the sebastokrator John Petraliphas governor of Thessaly and Macedonia She was born in Thessaloniki 3 sometime between 1210 and 1216 and married Michael II Komnenos Doukas the ruler of Epirus and Thessaly shortly after his accession in 1231 while still a child 4 5 Despite her being pregnant with Michael s son Nikephoros she was soon banished from the court by her husband who preferred to live with his mistress Living in poverty she endured her hardship without complaint sheltered by a priest from the village of Prinista Her exile lasted for five years after which Michael repented and called her back to him The couple thereafter lived together 4 6 As consort of Epirus Theodora is reported to have favoured closer ties with Epirus traditional rival for the succession of the Byzantine imperial heritage the Empire of Nicaea She is also recorded by the contemporary historian George Akropolites as accompanying her son Nikephoros for his betrothal and later his marriage to Maria the daughter of the Nicaean emperor Theodore II Laskaris r 1254 1258 The rapprochement brought about a settlement of the two realms ecclesiastical disputes and led to the conferment of the title of despotes on Michael but did not last long 7 8 Theodora also founded the convent of St George in the Epirote capital Arta where she retired after Michael s death and where she was buried It later became known as the Church of St Theodora and her tomb became the site of pilgrimage as many miracles have been attributed to it She is the patron saint of Arta 9 and is commemorated by the Orthodox Church on March 11 4 10 Family EditBy her marriage with Michael she had six children including Nikephoros I Komnenos Doukas who succeeded Michael as ruler of Epirus John Doukas Demetrios Doukas Komnenos Koutroules Helena Angelina Doukaina who married Manfred of Sicily Anna Komnene Doukaina References Edit Kazhdan 1991 pp 1042 2038 Talbot 1996 pp 324 325 Osia 8eodwra h basilissa Artas saint gr a b c Kazhdan 1991 p 2038 Talbot 1996 pp 323 327ff Talbot 1996 pp 330ff Kazhdan 1991 p 1363 2038 Talbot 1996 pp 323 324 Saint Theodora empress and patron saint of Arta Pemptousia Talbot 1996 pp 324 332ff Sources EditKazhdan Alexander ed 1991 Oxford Dictionary of Byzantium Oxford University Press ISBN 978 0 19 504652 6 Talbot Alice Mary 1996 A Saintly Empress Saint Theodora of Arta Holy Women of Byzantium Ten Saints Lives in English Translation pp 323 333 ISBN 0 88402 241 2 Royal titlesPreceded byMaria Petraliphaina Despoina consort of Epirosc 1231 1266 68 Succeeded byAnna Palaiologina Kantakouzene Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Theodora of Arta amp oldid 1126085401, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
