Church of St. Theodore of Edessa in Uvarovo
St. Theodore, Bishop of Edessa, was born in the Syrian city of Edessa. His life became an example of how the Lord glorifies His saints through great deeds. At the age of twenty, having been left without parents, Theodore distributed his property to the poor and went to Jerusalem. There, in the Monastery of St. Sava the Consecrated, he took monastic vows. After 12 years of monastic obedience and 24 years of strict seclusion and abstinence, the Lord called him to episcopal ministry. After the death of Bishop Edessa, Theodore was elected his successor by agreement of the Patriarchs of Antioch and Jerusalem, as well as the clergy and laity. This happened during the reign of the Byzantine Emperor Michael and his mother Theodora (842-855). During the episcopal consecration of Theodore, a miracle happened: the people saw a white dove hovering under the dome of the temple, and then landed on the saint’s head. Having joined the administration of the Church of Edessa, Theodore became a model for the flock, instructing it with his word and the example of his ascetic life. He actively fought against heresies, defending the Church from dissent. The saint found spiritual support in communion with the visionary elder Theodosius, who labored near the monastery of St. George. With the elder’s blessing, Theodore went to Baghdad to Caliph Mavi to protect the Orthodox from oppression. At that time, the Caliph was seriously ill. Theodore, calling on the Lord’s help, threw some earth from the Holy Sepulchre into the water and gave it to Mavi to drink, after which he was healed. The grateful caliph, having accepted the teachings of the saint, was baptized with the name John along with three of his entourage. Soon, Caliph John and his companions were killed for openly professing the Christian faith. Appearing in a dream to Saint Theodore and Elder Theodosius, he informed them that he had been granted the crown of martyrdom and would soon meet them in the Kingdom of Heaven. This became a sign to the saint that his earthly journey was nearing its end. Three years later, Theodore returned to the Lavra of St. Sava, where he died peacefully (9th century). The saint left behind edifying works that were popular in Russia in the 16th–17th centuries and have been preserved in numerous manuscripts.
Address: Uvarovo village, Irbis St., 1
