Hierarch Theodore, Archbishop of Rostov

Saint Theodore, Archbishop of Rostov (secular name John), was born in the first half of the 14th century, the son of Stefan — the elder brother of St. Sergius of Radonezh — making him St. Sergius's nephew and disciple. At age twelve, after his mother's death, the boy was entrusted to St. Sergius, who tonsured him a monk with the name Theodore. Ordained to the priesthood at the Trinity monastery, around 1370, with the blessing of St. Sergius and Metropolitan Alexius of Moscow, he founded a monastery honoring the Nativity of the Most Holy Theotokos on the bank of the Moscow River at Simonovo; in 1379 he established the new Simonov Monastery dedicated to the Dormition of the Theotokos, where several later-glorified ascetics received tonsure, including Saints Cyril of Belozersk and Ferapont of Mozhaisk. Saint Theodore became spiritual father to Grand Prince Dimitri Donskoi and carried out diplomatic missions for him, including journeys to Constantinople in 1383 and 1388. He returned from the latter voyage, together with Metropolitan Pimen, consecrated Archbishop of Rostov. He was also known as an iconographer. He reposed on November 28, 1394; his relics rest in the Dormition Cathedral of Rostov.