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Pulcheria the Empress

383 bytes added, 20:51, September 9, 2017
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Life: wain -> wane
The holy, right-believing '''Pulcheria the Empress''' (also ''Poulcheria'') 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 [[Nestorianism|Nestorian]] controversies in the fifth century. Her [[feast day ]] is [[September 10]]; she also shares a feast day with her husband [[Marcian]] on [[February 17]].
==Life==
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 so she inspired her brother to do likewise. While she appeared to be indifferent to the [[Arianism]] was as practiced by the German tribes, she took a firm position on the heretical teaching of [[Nestorius]]. She almost immediately showed her antagonism towards 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. At first he 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 wane 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 [[List of 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 Ephesus|'Robber Council' of 449 ]] in Ephesus, [[Leo the Great|Pope Leo I of Rome]] included Pulcheria among those he approached for help in reversing the council's decisions.
On [[July 2628]], 450, Theodosius suddenly died, and Pulcheria returned to the court as the wife of the new emperor, Marcian. She agreed to 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. It condemned both Nestorianism and the [[Robber Council of Ephesus|Robber Council of 449]] that had supported the Monophysite [[heresy]]. The [[heretic]] Eutyches was deposed and exiled.
Pulcheria died not long afterwards, 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 where he had died in exile and buried in the Church of the Apostles in Constantinople on [[January 27]], 438. She had three churches built in Constantinople that honored Mary the Theotokos. She built many hospitals, houses for pilgrims, and bequeathed her wealth to charity.
 
==External links==
*[http://ocafs.oca.org/FeastSaintsViewer.asp?FSID=102566 Right-Believing Pulcheria, Byzantine Empress] ([[OCA]])*[[w:Pulcheria|wikipedia:''Pulcheria'' at Wikipedia]]
*[http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/12561c.htm Catholic Encyclopedia: Pulcheria]
*[http://www.roman-emperors.org/pulcheria.htm Pulcheria]
[[Category:Saints]]
[[Category:Byzantine Saints]]
[[Category:Rulers]]
[[Category:Roman Emperors]]
[[Category:5th-century saints]]
[[Categoryro:Saints]][[Category:Empresses and QueensPulcheria Împărăteasa]]
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