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==Life==
Theodora, the greatest of Romania’s holy ascetics, was born in the village of Vanatori, Neamts in the first half of the seventeenth century, and was the daughter of Stephen Joldea and his wife. She was [[marriage|married]]to a man of Ismail but had no children. Therefore, but she and her husband decided to enter the [[monasticism|monastic life]]. Her husbandwent to the Skete of Poiana Marului, where he was tonsured with the name Eleutherius and became known as Eleutherius Eleutherios the Hesychast, became a . He was also ordained to the holy [[priest|priest]]hood. After her monastery was destroyed by the Turks and after the death of her spiritual mother, she was advised by [[Hieromonk]] Barsanuphius of Sihastria Skete to live in the wilderness for a year. Guided by Hieromonk Paul, who had been assigned by Fr. Barsanuphius, she found a [[hermit]] living in a cave. The hermit greeted her by name and invited her to live in his cell, for he would move to another place, where she lived as a recluse.
:''When Turks attacked the villages and monasteries around Neamts, the woods became filled with villagers and monastics. Some nuns found St Theodora's cell, and she called out to them, "Remain here in my cell, for I have another place of refuge." Then she moved into a nearby cave, living there completely alone. An army of Turks discovered the cave, and were about to kill the saint. Lifting up her hands, she cried out, "O Lord, deliver me from the hands of these murderers." The wall of the cave opened, and she was able to escape into the woods.'' <sup>[http://ocafs.oca.org/FeastSaintsViewer.asp?FSID=149013]</sup>
