Blog

St. Theotimus was a bishop of Tomis, modern-day Constanța, the civil and ecclesiastical metropolis of Scythia Minor, modern-day Dobrogea, towards the end of the fourth century.

He was commemorated every year on April 20 at Tomis, as it is written on this day in Acta Sanctorum: “At Tomis, the memory of St. Theotimus the Bishop is celebrated, whom even the faithless barbarians honored on account of his sanctity and miracles.”

St. Theotimus of Tomis’s time as bishop began prior to 392, for at this time, Blessed Ieronymus tells us the following about him in his work De viris illustribus: “Theotimus, bishop of Tomis in Scythia, published short works of moral content in dialectic form, in the style of ancient eloquence. I hear that he also writes other works.”

Sozomen the historian tells us, “On this day, the twentieth day of April, Theotimus the Scythian is commemorated, who led the Church of Tomis and the rest of Scythia; a man cultivated in philosophy, whom the Hunnic barbarians who lived by the Danube, showering him with praises and admiration for his virtue, named The God of the Romans. Truly, they (the Huns) were put to the test by divine works on his part. It is said that when he was travelling in the land of the barbarians, they (the Huns) came out to intercept him on the same road leading to Tomis. As those around him were mourning that they would perish immediately, he dismounted his horse and began to pray. The barbarians spotted neither him nor his companions or the horses from which they had dismounted, but passed them by. As they often conducted raids and inflicted damage on the Scythians (Geto-Daco-Romans), being unruly by their nature, he brought them to gentleness, offering them hospitality and granting them gifts. For this reason, suspecting him to be rich, a certain barbarian man attempted to enslave him. Preparing himself a lasso and leaning on his shield, as was his wont in battle against his enemies, he raised his right hand, wishing to throw the lasso, so as to pull the saint to himself and those of his race. But, immediately upon attempting this, his upraised arm remained frozen in the air, and the barbarian was not freed from the unseen bonds until the other barbarians intervened on his behalf and Theotimus prayed to God for him.

It is said that he let his hair grow long, according to the custom he had when he began to occupy himself with philosophy. He had a modest way of life, and did not establish a fixed time for dinner, but only when he hungered or thirsted. I think that it was the work of a philosopher not to submit to the necessities of nature according to his good pleasure, but according to his need.”

Several fragments of St. Theotimus’ writings are preserved in St. John of Damascus’ work, Sacred Parallels:

“It is not a grave thing to suffer intensely, but to suffer justly.”

“To remember God is to remember life, and to forget Him is to die. Therefore, there is no greater joy for a Christian than to know God.”

“In the mind that is disturbed and full of cares, there is no beautiful thought and God’s grace does not fill it. To reach perfection of soul means to free it of cares, for it is destroyed on account of cares. Therefore, it is said of the perfect soul that it is truly a lily among thorns. For the lily of the Gospel is the soul that is free of cares, which neither toils nor spins, yet is arrayed more beautifully than Solomon in all his glory.”

“Scripture says of those who take care only for the flesh: The entire life of the lawless one is full of cares (Job 15:20). It is truly an impious thing to take care of the things of the flesh all of one’s life and not to take care at all for the things which are to come. Therefore, Jeremiah says in his Lamentations that those who were brought up in scarlet embrace ash heaps. When we persist in brilliant and glowing thoughts, then we are clothed in scarlet, but when we are attracted by temporal things, then we are covered by ash heaps.”

“Whoever walks on all fours is entirely unclean. He that trusts in perishable things walks on all fours, and, out of care for them, wholly neglects the leading part of man, that is, the soul. Just as those bound in chains walk with difficulty, so also those chained by this life do not succeed in walking on the path of virtue.”

In his missionary activity, St. Theotimus had valuable help on the part of St. John Chrysostom, who sent missionaries from Constantinople around the year 399, according to the historian Theodoret of Cyrus.

St. Theotimus especially valued St. John Chrysostom and remained in a close bond of friendship with him for his entire life.

At the Synod of the Oak, near Chalcedon, St. Theotimus defended St. John Chrysostom with zeal and courage from the accusation that he favored the Origenist monks, which was levied by Patriarch Theophilus of Alexandria and Bishop Epiphanius of Cyprus in order to please Empress Eudoxia.

Socrates the historian, speaking of his taking a stance at the Synod, describes him thus: “a man very brilliant in his piety and the sanctity of his life.”

It is not known when St Theotimus’ days came to an end, but in all likelihood, he died before 407, when his great and illustrious friend, St. John Chrysostom, passed away.

For the purity and sanctity of his life, for his virtues and literary theological qualities, and for his missionary activity and labors, Bishop Theotimus of Tomis enjoys special veneration, having been added to the ranks of the saints. He is commemorated yearly on April 20th.