Mount Athos weathered lithography (icon) of Saint Theodora the Empress in pine wood with carved decoration.

Saint Theodora the Queen was born in 815 AD. in Evesa of Paphlagonia. She was the daughter of Marinus and Theoktisti who were distinguished for their devotion to the Orthodox Christian faith. In 830 AD, Theodora married the iconoclastic emperor Theophilus. After the death of her husband, in 842 AD, she ascended the royal throne and gave the order for the removal of the iconoclast Patriarch John. With her actions she managed to restore the Holy Icons and to establish the Orthodox Sunday.

Saint Theodora slept peacefully in 867 AD. in the Monastery of Gastria where she became a nun and lived an ascetic life. Her confinement in the Monastery was ordered by her son Michael and her brother Bardas. The Relic of the Saint is kept incorruptible in the Church of Panagia Spilaiotissa in Corfu. Her memory is honored by the Orthodox Christian Church on February 11 of each year.

Apolytikion of Saint Theodora the Queen

Plagal of the First Tone

As a right worthy namesake of gifts bestowed of God, and a divinely-wrought image of holy wisdom and faith, thou didst make the Church to shine with godly piety; for thou didst demonstrate to all that the Saints in every age have shown honor to the icons, O Theodora, thou righteous and fair adornment of the Orthodox.