Difference between revisions of "Pulcheria the Empress"

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Pulcheria used her wealth for the [[church]]. In doing this she inspired her brother to do likewise. While she appeared to be indifferent to [[Arianism]] that was practiced by the German tribes, she took a firm position on the heretical teaching of [[Nestorius]]. She almost immediately became antagonistic against him when he became [[Patriarch]] in 428. Whether the downgrading of the status of the Virgin Mary from Theotokos to Christotokos under Nestorianism was involved, Pulcheria greatly influenced her brother’s position in the controversies that led up to the [[Third Ecumenical Council|Council in Ephesus]] in 431. He, at first, was a supporter of Nestorius before acceding to his sister’s position. In this controversy Patr. [[Cyril of Alexandria]] believed Pulcheria’s influence was important in the downfall of his rival.
 
Pulcheria used her wealth for the [[church]]. In doing this she inspired her brother to do likewise. While she appeared to be indifferent to [[Arianism]] that was practiced by the German tribes, she took a firm position on the heretical teaching of [[Nestorius]]. She almost immediately became antagonistic against him when he became [[Patriarch]] in 428. Whether the downgrading of the status of the Virgin Mary from Theotokos to Christotokos under Nestorianism was involved, Pulcheria greatly influenced her brother’s position in the controversies that led up to the [[Third Ecumenical Council|Council in Ephesus]] in 431. He, at first, was a supporter of Nestorius before acceding to his sister’s position. In this controversy Patr. [[Cyril of Alexandria]] believed Pulcheria’s influence was important in the downfall of his rival.
  
In 441, Pulcheria’s influence on her brother began to wain as the eunuch Chrysaphius convinced Theodosius to dismiss his sister. But, soon the [[Monophysitism|Monophysite]] controversy was raised by the [[archimandrite]] Eutyches and supported by Theodosius as well as by Cyril’s successor as [[Patriarchs of Alexandria|Patriarch of Alexandria]], Dioscorus. When Eutyches’ views were validated at the ‘Robber Council’ of 449 in Ephesus, Pope Leo I of Rome included Pulcheria among those he approached for help in reversing the decisions of the council.  
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In 441, Pulcheria’s influence on her brother began to wain as the eunuch Chrysaphius convinced Theodosius to dismiss his sister. But, soon the [[Monophysitism|Monophysite]] controversy was raised by the [[archimandrite]] Eutyches and supported by Theodosius as well as by Cyril’s successor as [[Patriarchs of Alexandria|Patriarch of Alexandria]], [[Pope Saint Dioscorus I of Alexandria (Coptic POV)|Dioscorus]]. When Eutyches’ views were validated at the ‘Robber Council’ of 449 in Ephesus, Pope Leo I of Rome included Pulcheria among those he approached for help in reversing the decisions of the council.  
  
 
On [[July 26]], 450, Theodosius suddenly died, and Pulcheria returned to the court as the wife of the new emperor, Marcian. She had agreed in the marriage with the understanding that her vow of chastity would be honored. In 451, the [[Fourth Ecumenical Council|Council of Chalcedon]], presided over by Marcian, was convened that condemned Nestorianism as well as the [[Robber Council of 449]] that had supported the Monophysite [[heresy]]. The [[heretic]] Eutyches was deposed and exiled.
 
On [[July 26]], 450, Theodosius suddenly died, and Pulcheria returned to the court as the wife of the new emperor, Marcian. She had agreed in the marriage with the understanding that her vow of chastity would be honored. In 451, the [[Fourth Ecumenical Council|Council of Chalcedon]], presided over by Marcian, was convened that condemned Nestorianism as well as the [[Robber Council of 449]] that had supported the Monophysite [[heresy]]. The [[heretic]] Eutyches was deposed and exiled.

Revision as of 01:03, March 15, 2007

The holy, right-believing Pulcheria the Empress was the daughter of Arcadius, the Emperor of the Eastern part of the Roman empire, and his wife Aelia Eudoxia. As regent for her younger brother Theodosius II and empress in her own name, she strongly influenced the direction of the government in its relations with Christianity, especially during the Nestorian controversies in the fifth century. She has been recognized as a saint. Her feast day is September 10.

Life

Aelia Pulcheria was born on January 19, 399. Aelia Pulcheria should not be confused with her aunt, Pulceheria, who was the daughter of Theodosius I and Aelian Flaccilla and had died in 385 at the age of eight. Arcadius, who was the elder son of Theodosius I, died in 408. At the death of his father, and at a very young age, seven year old, Theodosius II became emperor, under the tutelage of the eunuch Antiochus.

Pulcheria was a devout Christian and at an early age she expressed her devotion to Mary Theotokos and took a vow of virginity to avoid being forced into marriage. As the elder sister of Theodosius II, her older sister Flaccilla had died young, probably before 408, she held much of the power when he became emperor. She was involved extensively in the education of her brother, even though she was only two years older than him, and maintained enormous influence over him for much of his reign as emperor. Sources recorded that in 412 at the age of thirteen she dismissed her brother’s tutor, Antiochus, and assumed the role of her brother’s tutor.

The court quickly assumed a pious and austere atmosphere under her influence, befitting her almost monastic life style. On July 4, 414, the Senate proclaimed her Augusta (Empress) and made her regent for her brother. When Theodosius became capable of ruling by himself in 416, Pulcheria continued to strongly influence over her brother and of the course of the empire. Through her influence Theodosius removed all pagans from the civil service. Under her influence Theodosius and his wife Aelia Eudoxia, who had been a pagan, became devout Christians.

Pulcheria used her wealth for the church. In doing this she inspired her brother to do likewise. While she appeared to be indifferent to Arianism that was practiced by the German tribes, she took a firm position on the heretical teaching of Nestorius. She almost immediately became antagonistic against him when he became Patriarch in 428. Whether the downgrading of the status of the Virgin Mary from Theotokos to Christotokos under Nestorianism was involved, Pulcheria greatly influenced her brother’s position in the controversies that led up to the Council in Ephesus in 431. He, at first, was a supporter of Nestorius before acceding to his sister’s position. In this controversy Patr. Cyril of Alexandria believed Pulcheria’s influence was important in the downfall of his rival.

In 441, Pulcheria’s influence on her brother began to wain as the eunuch Chrysaphius convinced Theodosius to dismiss his sister. But, soon the Monophysite controversy was raised by the archimandrite Eutyches and supported by Theodosius as well as by Cyril’s successor as Patriarch of Alexandria, Dioscorus. When Eutyches’ views were validated at the ‘Robber Council’ of 449 in Ephesus, Pope Leo I of Rome included Pulcheria among those he approached for help in reversing the decisions of the council.

On July 26, 450, Theodosius suddenly died, and Pulcheria returned to the court as the wife of the new emperor, Marcian. She had agreed in the marriage with the understanding that her vow of chastity would be honored. In 451, the Council of Chalcedon, presided over by Marcian, was convened that condemned Nestorianism as well as the Robber Council of 449 that had supported the Monophysite heresy. The heretic Eutyches was deposed and exiled.

Pulcheria died not too long later, in July 453. In addition to her defense of Orthodoxy, Pulcheria is remembered for her zeal in promoting other interests of the Church. She had the relics of St. John Chrysostom returned from exile where he had died and buried in the Church of the Apostles in Constantinople on January 27, 438. She had three church built in Constantinople that honored Mary the Theotokos. She had built many hospitals, houses for pilgrims, and bequeathed her wealth to charity.


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