Theodore of Tarsus 		September 19
Archbishop of Canterbury
Theodore arrived in England in 669 as the newly appointed archbishop of Canterbury. He found the church confused and drifting. When he died in 690, he left it well organised and self-confident, ready to face what would become one of the most brilliant centuries in the history of the church in England.
A Greek by origin and a native of Tarsus, Theodore was already sixty-six years old when nominated archbishop of Canterbury. That was after Wighard, the choice of two English kings, had died, a monk, Adrian, had declined, and another monk, Andrew, was too ill to take up the appointment. At the time, Theodore was a monk living in Italy. Adrian went with Theodore to England. On arrival at Canterbury, Theodore discovered that south of the Humber there was only one bishop in office, and in the north only two. The English church had been badly affected by the plague, and there were strong tensions between supporters of the Celtic and the Roman traditions.
Theodore’s vigour and reforming spirit became evident immediately. New bishops were appointed, a synod of all the bishops was called, and a fresh set of canons was promulgated, through which he was able to reconcile some of the differences between the Roman and Celtic traditions. Several new dioceses were created by Theodore, though the rather high-handed manner in which he divided Northumbria led to some friction which lasted several years. His wisdom in dealing with moral problems was soon recognised, and his judgements on issues of conflict commended themselves for their justice and practicability. He gave a priority to education and insisted that this be of the broadest kind. He established a school under Adrian at Canterbury, which produced several future bishops. His own intellectual ability won him the admiration of others. Among his achievements, he is remembered for the encouragement of the use of Gregorian plainchant in English church worship.
Theodore was about eighty-seven when he died on 19 September 690. The Venerable Bede wrote of him: “Theodore was the first archbishop whom the entire church of the English obeyed,” a remark underlining Theodore’s success at largely unifying the Roman and Celtic traditions in England.
For Liturgical Use
Theodore was sixty-six years of age and a monk from Tarsus living in Italy when he was sent to England as the new archbishop of Canterbury. The church was in disarray and dispirited, but by the time Theodore died in 690 it was well organised and confident, thanks to his wisdom and reforming zeal. He was renowned as a scholar, educationist, lover of music and administrator. He did much to resolve the differences in the English church between the older Celtic traditions and the newer Roman ones.
Sentence
Keep steady my footsteps, O God, according to your promise.	Psalm 119:133
Collect
God of all truth,
you called Theodore of Tarsus
to minister in an alien land,
and enabled him to establish unity
where there had been division
and order where there had been chaos;
give to your church such vision and harmony,
that it may proclaim by word and deed
the gospel of the prince of peace,
Jesus Christ our Lord.

God of the ordered universe,
blessed are you in your faithful steward Theodore,
archbishop, architect, administrator
of the church in England;
may our work in your church stand here through the ages.
Psalms	34:8-15	122
Readings
Ezra 7:6-10		A leader from afar
2 Thessalonians 1:3-5	That you may be made worthy
John 15:1-8		Abide in the vine
Post Communion Sentence
The aim of our Christian instruction is love that comes from a pure heart, a good conscience, and sincere faith.			1 Timothy 1:5 (adapted)