Sts Theodore and Theophanis (Grapti)

by Christina Dedousis

St Theodore is commemorated on December 27
St Theophanis is commemorated on October 11

The two brothers, Theophanis and Theodore were born in Jerusalem. Their parents were devout Christians and set the example for their children. Their father's name was lov who later became a monk and priest at the Monastery of Saint Savas. 'File eldest of the two brothers was Theodore who was quite a scholar. Realising his talent, his parents sent him to the Monastery of Saint Savas to learn the holy, teachings. Later his brother Theophanis, who bad similar qualities, joined him.

After a while, Theodore left the monastery to continue his studies and when he was satisfied with what he had achieved, returned to the monastery, where he wrote articles with reference to faith, reverence, and virtue. The Abbot, recognising Theodore's qualities, ordained him a priest.

During that period, there was great unrest within the church, which resulted from the heresy, and persecutions of the Emperors. Thus the Emperor Leon V, the Armenian, started a great battle against the Christians. Firstly, he exiled all Orthodox priests, replacing them with heretics who supported him, and destroyed all the Holy icons. God, seeing this injustice and disrespect, allowed the Arabs to campaign against the Byzantines and to capture many cities and monasteries, one of which was the Monastery of Saint Savas.

Wanting to stop these terrible events, the Patriarch of Jerusalem decided to send two devout and intelligent monks to the Emperor and make him realise that what he was doing was against the Holy Gospel. As expected, Theodore and Theophanis departed for Constantinople. Firstly, they saw the Patriarch of Constantinople, accusing him of acquiring the position unlawfully, then went to the Emperor Leon, indicating to him that he should follow the true faith. The Emperor listened attentively, admiring the intelligence and spirituality of the two brothers. However, he tried to convert them to his heresy and realising this, Theophanis and Theodore became more forceful in their argument.

Angered, the Emperor ordered that they be taken away and tortured, but with the help of God they, managed to withstand their torment. Seeing he was unable to break them, he ordered that they be exiled to the Bosporus near the Black Sea. Divine justice, however, did not allow Leon to go unpunished. Michael II who obtained the throne killed him on Christmas Eve, in the church he had persecuted. However, Michael, who also followed Leon’s footsteps died shortly afterwards.

Subsequently, Theofilos, who was similar to the previous rulers, became Emperor. He caused great damage to the church and imprisoned many, Christians, which included Theodore and Theophanis. They were captured and subjected to greater torture, and as though this had not been enough, the Emperor ordered that 12 verses be etched on their foreheads with hot iron. Hence, they were referred to as "grapti", from the Greek word "grapho" (to write). Having been tortured for their Orthodox faith and reverence towards the icons, they were exiled to Amasia of Bithynia and by the Emperor's instruction they were not to be buried when they died as a sign of contempt. The two brothers experienced many hardships and Theodore finally, succumbed and died on 27 December 838 AD. Theophanis paid tribute to his brother with hymns, which have survived to this day. Remembering the Emperor's ruling, he did not dare bury Theodore, but instead placed his body in a coffin.

After this event, Theophanis was exiled to Thessaloniki. He did not remain there for long because the Emperor Theofilos died and the Empress Theodora, who reinstated the icons and the Orthodox faith, allowed everyone who had been exiled to return to Constantinople. Thus, Theophanis, a living martyr of the capital, where the Patriarch Methodios ordained him Metropolitan of Nikeas.

A devout Christian eventually transferred the holy relics of his brother Theodore to Chalkidona where priests and monks paid their respects as was befitting. They built a church where they placed St Theodore's relics. This is where they remain to this day.

Theophanis lived a little longer, and like his brother, wrote chants, which have adorned our church's hymnology. Having set the example with his teachings, he gave up his soul on 11 October 845 AD.