Podcast Episode 7
Theodore the Studite
with Dr. George Demacopoulos & host Nick Walters
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This Week in Christian History is produced by students at Mississippi College in partnership with Blue & Gold Media and hosted by Nick Walters, founder and director of the Center for Christian History at Mississippi College. Each weekly episode brings together a historically grounded interview with a leading expert and a pair of date-specific highlights drawn from the long and varied history of Christianity.
The Deep Dive for Episode 7 features Dr. George Demacopoulos of Fordham University, one of the most respected scholars of Byzantine Christianity, Orthodox monasticism, and the development of Eastern Christian thought. His expertise provides the backdrop for exploring the life and legacy of Theodore the Studite, a towering monastic reformer whose influence extended far beyond the walls of his monastery.
Theodore the Studite (759–826) stands as one of the most important figures in the history of Eastern Orthodox monasticism. Born into a prominent Constantinopolitan family, he eventually entered the monastery of Sakkoudion on Mount Olympus in Bithynia, where he trained under his uncle Plato. His early life was shaped by a deep concern for the moral and spiritual renewal of the Byzantine Church, and he soon emerged as a leading voice for stricter discipline, personal holiness, and accountability within monastic communities. After political conflict and exile under Emperor Constantine VI, Theodore became the abbot of the Stoudios Monastery in Constantinople, a position that allowed him to implement reforms that would shape monastic life for centuries.
Theodore’s reforms at Stoudios were comprehensive. He established a clearer rule of daily prayer, introduced closer supervision of monks, emphasized communal labor, and insisted on ethical consistency among clergy and laity alike. His vision of monastic life became the model for later Orthodox monasticism, influencing Mount Athos, Slavic monastic traditions, and many of the ascetic movements that shaped Eastern Christianity during the Middle Ages.
Theodore is also remembered for his leadership during the second phase of Byzantine Iconoclasm. When imperial authorities again attempted to ban the veneration of icons in the early ninth century, Theodore became one of the strongest defenders of the theological legitimacy of icons. For Theodore, icons were not pieces of art; they were testimonies to the incarnation, reminders that God entered human history in visible form. Because of his convictions, he endured arrest, exile, beatings, and imprisonment. His letters from exile became some of the most widely circulated spiritual writings of the period and testify to his unwavering belief that defending icons was essential to defending the truth of the Christian faith.
Beyond his public leadership, Theodore was a prolific writer. His corpus includes sermons, hymns, poems, monastic rules, and a vast collection of letters that provide insight into Byzantine political life, pastoral care, and monastic discipline. These writings shaped Eastern Christian spirituality long after his death and continue to be studied by scholars today. His feast is observed in both Eastern and Western Christian calendars, and his influence remains visible wherever monastic communities draw upon the Studite tradition.
Alongside the Deep Dive, this episode also includes two date-based highlights drawn from this week in Christian history.
Highlight One:
March 24, 1603 - For nearly 75 years in the 1500s, England alternated between its official church being the Roman Catholic Church and the Church of England. When Queen Elizabeth I died on March 24, 1603, many questioned whether the nation would become permanently Catholic or Protestant. Her cousin and successor, James I, deemed the Church of England the official church, and this has remained the official church since then. Pictured is one of Elizabeth’s many necklaces. It is believed these pearls may have belonged to her mother Anne Boleyn.
Highlight Two:
March 27, 1378 - In the late 1300s and early 1400s, there were times at which three different men claimed to be the Pope at the same time. Because some of these men were stationed in Avignon, France, and not in Rome, it further complicated the situation. Pope Gregory XI was the last universally accepted of the French Avignon popes when he died on March 27, 1378.
Through its combination of expert conversation and historical reflection, This Week in Christian History helps listeners see how the Christian past continues to shape the present. Students at Mississippi College assist in researching dates, preparing content, and supporting production, making each episode a collaborative effort rooted in academic learning and public engagement.
