Theodore of Mopsuestia

Catholics and Protestants fought to the death over how Christ is present in the Eucharist. I wonder what they would think of our modern, efficient practice of offering a communion wafer and grape juice in a safe, hygienic package, but perhaps I digress. I’ll return to the primacy of the Lord’s Supper shortly, but first some background on Theodore of Mospuestia (c. 350-428) and his better-known contemporary John Chrysostom. They were fellow students studying classical literature in Antioch when they became interested in monastic life. They took vows to become monks, which did not sit well with Theodore’s well-to-do family, who pressured him to choose employment in keeping with his affluent family lineage. It didn’t help matters that Theodore was also infatuated with a young maiden named Hermoine. He left monastic life to contemplate marriage and a more lucrative career, caught as he was between making good on his vow to pursue a life of service and pleasing his parents. John wrote his friend two impassioned letters urging him to honor his sacred vow, concerned that a more prestigious job with accompanying wealth would lead him away from Christ. Theodore received John’s counsel and returned to the monastic fold. Later, when John was accused of heresy, it was Theodore’s turn to come to the aid of his beleaguered friend. Theodore became a priest in Antioch and later bishop of Mopsuestia (modern Turkey) in AD 392, where he faithfully served for thirty-six years. The Arian controversy was still raging despite the attempt of the Council in Nicaea to quell the dispute with the Nicene Creed. Arius was a priest who taught Jesus was a created being and, thereby, not God in human form. We have Theodore to thank for his able defense of Christ as fully divine and fully human. Theodore, like his friend John, wrote a detailed liturgy to accompany the Lord’s Supper that is still observed in Syriac Orthodox Churches. The care and attention Theodore devoted to the sacrament communicates its importance to the early church. We join in a prayer from this liturgy. His frequent references to Jesus’ divinity and resulting thanksgiving guide us to pray: