Theodulus of Sinai

Holy Venerable Theodulus of Sinai, a hieromonk, was the son of Saint Nilus the Ascetic, commemorated on 12 November, who recorded the killing of the holy fathers at Raithu in the fifth century. With his father, Theodulus left the world while still a boy and withdrew into the wilderness of Mount Sinai.

When barbarians attacked the hermits, the youth fell into the hands of raiders, who decided to offer him as a sacrifice to the dawn, which they honoured in place of God. The Lord saved him through the earnest prayer of his father: the barbarians slept through the hour of sunrise, gave up the sacrifice and took him away with them. Sold by the raiders in the city of Elusa, Theodulus was ransomed by the bishop of the place, and his father found him in the bishop's house and gave thanks to God.

The bishop ordained both Nilus and Theodulus priests. Returning to Mount Sinai, they served the Lord there to the end of their lives. Their incorrupt relics were carried to Constantinople in the time of the emperor Justin the Younger (565-578) and laid in the church of the Holy Apostles in the Orphanotropheion.

The Church remembers Saint Theodulus on 27 January.