E06773: In the late 5th century or later, the Greek Life of *Theodoulos (Stylite in Edessa, ob. 5th century. S02603), recounts the story of an Urban Prefect of Constantinople who embraced ascetic life as a stylite near Edessa (Syria). After 48 years on the pillar, it was revealed to him that his ascetic struggles were the equivalent of the life of Kornelios, a musician from Damascus. Seemingly a man living in sin, Kornelios once sold all his belongings, in order to pay off the debts of a woman who was about to prostitute herself. Written in Greek in Syria (?).

Life of Theodoulos the Stylite (BHG 1785)

Summary:

1. Theodoulos lived under the emperor Theodosius the Great (379-395), serving as Urban Prefect of Constantinople. He was living and ruling according to virtues and honour, despising violence and valuing tolerance.

2-3. Theodoulos shared his doubts about the fleetingness of human life with his wife Prokla, quoting Paul, Psalms and Ecclesiastes. He proposed that they renounce their material possessions, for these are fleeting while the Kingdom of Heaven is everlasting.

4. Prokla was unhappy because of her husband’s decision. She cried out that he should not leave her and she quoted Paul (1 Cor. 7:5), trying to convince him not to leave her.

5-6. Theodoulos stepped down and the emperor accepted his resignation, although he loved him very much. However, the people of the city asked the emperor to keep him in office because of his great merits. The emperor Theodosius gave a speech to the crowd, praising Theodoulos and explaining the reasons why he had let him go.

7-8. Realising that her husband was indeed embracing a monastic lifestyle, Prokla was distressed. She proposed that they give up their possessions and live in poverty and chastity together in the city, because she was unable endure the hardships of monastic life proper.

9. Theodoulos went to sleep and had a vision of Christ, encouraging him to proceed with is plan. Obeying, he asked for Christ's guidance as to what he should do to relieve Prokla’s distress.

10. Christ replied that he would take Prokla, in order that Theodoulos might devote his life to Him. Prokla indeed died, and Theodoulos buried her with all honours. He then distributed all his possessions to the poor, and left for Edessa where, with permission from the local bishop, he bought a pillar and started a life as a stylite.

11. Theodoulos conducted an ascetic life on the pillar, living frugally and fighting the devil. People were amazed by his sanctity and visited him when they were physically or spiritually ill, since God had granted him the power of healing. After his thirtieth year on the pillar, he completely gave up eating, and only received the Eucharist on Sundays.

12. After 48 years and 7 months on the pillar, Theodoulos asked of God to reveal to him in whose company he would inherit the kingdom of heaven, if he had indeed been worthy of it. God reassured Theodoulos that he had indeed been pleasing to Him, and revealed that his companion in Heaven would be a certain Kornelios, a musician from Damascus.

13. Theodoulos was distressed assuming that this meant that his long struggles had been regarded as worthless by God, the equivalent of the life of a musician.

14. Troubled by the revelation, he descended his pillar and went to Damascus, where he found Kornelios returning from the hippodrome with a prostitute.

15-16. He took Kornelios to a private place and asked him to tell him of any good deeds he had ever done in his life. Initially reluctant and ashamed of a life spent with prostitutes and mimes, Kornelios disclosed that he once attempted to have intercourse with a woman who suddenly started crying. He asked her the reason of her tears and she answered that she was prostituting herself to pay for her husband’s debts.

18. Kornelios was moved by the story of the woman and decided to give all his money and precious belongings to pay off her debts and save her from prostitution. Impressed by Kornelios’ actions, Theodoulos asked of Kornelios to pray for him, when he enters to Heaven.

19. Theodoulos returned to his column and lived for another five years. When he died, Kornelios, already dead, welcomed him, together with the other saints, into the Kingdom of Heaven. The remains of Theodoulos were buried by all the bishops, abbots, monks and lay people of the region. Many sick people visited his burial place and were healed.

Text: Acta Sanctorum
Summary: Giovanni Hermanin de Reichenfeld, Lavinia Cerioni, Efthymios Rizos.