Theodore of Mega Spilaion

Venerable Theodore of Mega Spilaion is the brother of Saint Simeon and, together with him, the founder of the Mega Spilaion Monastery (the Great Cave) in the Peloponnese. Born in Thessalonica at the beginning of the fourth century in a devout family, the two studied theology, philosophy, rhetoric and poetry, then chose the monastic life and spent time in the desert, on Olympus, Ossa and Pelion, before travelling to the Holy Land and Sinai.

Ordained priests by Maximus of Jerusalem, they received in a dream the command of the Mother of God to go to Achaia and find Her icon, which according to tradition was made by Saint Luke. With the help of Euphrosyne the shepherdess, they found it in a cave in the mountains of the Peloponnese in the year 362, according to tradition. The monastery was built on that spot. Theodore lived as a struggler and fell asleep in peace. His head is kept at Mega Spilaion, like that of his brother and of Euphrosyne. He is commemorated on 18 October (new style).