Theodore of Tarsus

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Theodore (602-September 19, 690) was the eighth archbishop of Canterbury. He was born at Tarsus in Cilicia (in present-day Turkey).

On the death of Wighard, who had been sent to Pope Vitalian by Ecgberht of Kent and Oswiu of Northumbria in 667, apparently for consecration as archbishop, Theodore, who had become prominent in the Eastern work of the church, was recommended by Hadrian of Niridanum (also known as Saint Adrian) to fill the vacant see.

Vitalian consecrated Theodore in April 668 on condition that Hadrian, afterwards abbot of St Peter's, Canterbury, should go with him. Hadrian was detained for some time by Ebroin, the Neustrian Mayor of the Palace, but Theodore reached England in May 669. According to Bede's account he made a tour of the whole of Anglo-Saxon England, reforming abuses and giving instruction as to the monastic rule and the canonical Easter. Bede also declares that he was the first archbishop to whom all the "church of the Angles" submitted.

From the first he seems to have ignored the scheme for a separate province of York, but he reorganized the episcopate, assigning Bisi to East Anglia, Putta to Rochester, Hlothhere to Wessex, and Ceadda after reconsecration to Mercia.

He brought the monastic education up to date by introducing literary, metrical and musical studies. In 673 Theodore presided at the first synod of the clergy in England which was held at Hertford. Various disciplinary regulations were emphasized, and an annual meeting arranged at a place called Cloveshoe. After this council Theodore revived the East Saxon bishopric, to which he appointed Earconwald. Soon after the first expulsion of Wilfrid in 678 he divided the Northumbrian diocese, appointing Trumwine of Abercorn bishop to the Picts. This led to a quarrel with Wilfrid which was not finally settled until 686-687. In 679, Aelfwine, the brother of King Ecgfrith of Northumbria, was killed in battle against the Mercians, and Theodore intervened to make peace between the two kingdoms by persuading King Aethelred of Mercia to pay a weregild in compensation for Aelfwine's death.

Theodore presided at other synods held c. 679 at Hatfield and c. 684 at Twyford (near Alnwick). He died in 690. A penitential composed under Theodore's direction is still extant.