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

St. Theodora of Thessalonike 193
sures of the world, when she was sore tried by suffering in our cenobitic community,
she never turned her attention to the sensation of pain, but even now,
when she is congealed by the cold, she endures because of her love for God.”
And while she was still speaking, one of the nuns, who was the blood
sister of the superior, 167 said to her quietly: “This very night, my lady, I saw a
luminous and brilliant crown, 168 whose beauty and brilliance is impossible for
me to describe, descending from heaven. And as I was wondering to whom
this brilliant crown belonged, I heard a voice saying: ‘This is Theodora’s.’”
And since the superior was afraid that the blessed Theodora might somehow
hear this and be lifted up with pride and fall into condemnation, 169 like a wise
and knowledgeable person she gave thanks to God and said, “Be careful, my
sister, and take care to tell no one what you saw.”
35. And she immediately ordered the blessed to come into
the church. So she entered, all white with snow on her exterior, while her soul
within was shining with heavenly light. [p. 136] And again making her customary
obeisance, she asked for forgiveness and would not rise until she heard the
words of pardon. Afterwards, when she was asked privately by the nuns how
she had spent the night, taking confidence in her love for them she said: “Believe
me, my sisters, once I accepted with utter faith the penance
by the superior, I did not experience rain or any other painful affliction during
the night, but was joyful and happy and seemed to be sitting in a bath.”
Thus God knows how to aid those who hope in Him. 170 Such prizes does
He Who alone fashions our hearts and understands all our works 171 grant to
those who sincerely love Him. Thus the Lord revealed this woman to be like
a city set on a hill 172 through her humility and obedience.
167 It is worthy of note that this nun, as a sister of Anna, was related to Theodora;
hence family considerations no doubt played a role in her testimony promoting Theodora’s
sanctity.
168 This crown, besides suggesting a comparison between Theodora and the forty
martyrs, is symbolic of the crown of obedience which the mother superior sought to
obtain for her protégé; cf. Chap. 31.
169 1 Tim. 3:6.
170 Ps. 33 (34):9.
171 Ps. 32 (33):15.
172 Mt. 5:14.