7. Life of St. Theodora of Thessalonike - Dumbarton Oaks

St. Theodora of Thessalonike 167
4. And after developing this admirable ambition, while his yearning was
still fiery hot, he attained his desired goal; and so the city dweller, who had
been attended by many servants, came to such a place, relieved of
intercourse with mankind, bringing nothing along except himself, after entrusting
his daughter to God and to one of his relatives, her godmother at her
baptism (who was so virtuous that she was guided everywhere by divine will,
and embraced a pure and immaculate way of life), so that as her kinswoman
and spiritual mother and as one distinguished for virtue she would provide for
her physical and spiritual nurture in the best way possible. God approved that
His servant [Theodora] should be entrusted to this woman, so that from the
time she was in swaddling clothes her life might be distinguished and admired.
For a reed is not as likely to catch fire because of its dryness, as the [p. 74]
disposition of those under guardianship is liable to be influenced by the one
in authority over them, for good or evil, especially if they should chance to be
infants, inasmuch as their undeveloped mind soon adapts and conforms to the
habits of the guardian who converses . For, as someone said, he
who walketh with wise men will be wise, 30 and association with the wicked is
not without danger. Wherefore it is always better for the weaker to follow the
stronger in hope of improvement. From this then resulted
Theodora’s existence and flourishing and the fact that she was praised
and admired by all.
5. Thus the blessed was raised by that marvelous woman.
And while still a child, she was engaged to a man from a prominent family on
the island. The reason for her early betrothal was as follows. When the girl
was seven years old, 31 she was at the same time graceful and intelligent, and
whatever lesson her adoptive mother decided to set for her, therein was revealed
the girl’s cleverness and natural intelligence. And she had learned the
sacred letters 32 and part of the Psalms; and she was praised and admired for
the beauty of her body, her pretty face, and her inherent modesty and piety.
Therefore a huge swarm of noblemen sought to marry the young girl, and
30 Prov. 13:20.
31 Cf. also Chap. 45. Byzantine law permitted a girl to be betrothed at the age of
seven; cf. Title 1.1 of the Ecloga of Leo III issued in 741 (L. Burgmann, Ecloga, das
Gesetzbuch Leons III. und Konstantinos’ V. [Frankfurt, 1983], 168.112–114). Marriage,
however, was not permitted until the age of twelve. The vita of Theodora does not
specifically mention her marriage, nor the age at which it occurred.
32 tà iJerà grámmata; cf. note 47 in Life of Elisabeth the Wonderworker.