Venerable Theodosius of Tarnovo (+1362) and His Disciple Romanus

The Venerable Theodosius was a spiritual son of Gregory of Sinai (commemorated 8 August). Saint Gregory’s monastery suffered from the raids of robbers. The hegumen sent the Venerable Theodosius to the Bulgarian Tsar Alexander to ask for help. The pious sovereign made generous gifts for surrounding the monastery with a wall, and also acquired a herd for the monastery. When Theodosius was at the royal court for the last time, a nobleman came with him and asked to be taken to the monastery too. This was Romanus, who afterwards became the venerable father’s sincere and beloved disciple. After the death of Gregory of Sinai, Theodosius refused the office of superior, left the monastery with Romanus, and founded his own monastery near the city of Tarnovo. The holy father became famous for preaching the Orthodox teaching. His labours in translating the writings of the holy fathers from Greek into Slavonic are noteworthy. In 1360 the saint fell gravely ill. He handed over the care of the monastery to his disciple Romanus, and himself went to Constantinople to visit his friend, the Venerable Callistus, where he died in 1362.