The Concise Oxford Dictionary of World Religions (2480 page)

(
c.
350–428).
Christian theologian and biblical commentator. He became bishop of Mopsuestia (in Cilicia, modern SE Turkey) in 392 and remained there the rest of his life. On account of his Christology, identified with
Nestorianism
, he was condemned at the Council of
Constantinople
in 553; as a consequence his works have mostly been lost in Greek. On the basis of Syriac versions, modern W. scholars have usually allowed that Theodore's thought is not unorthodox.

 
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(759–826).
Christian monastic reformer. In 799 the community of which he was abbot at Saccudium, moved to the monastery of Studios at Constantinople. This monastery, founded in 463, had followed the rule of the
Acoemetae
, but had become almost extinct under the
Iconoclast
emperor Constantine V. Under Theodore, however, it became the centre and model of E. monasticism. He was a man of personal sanctity and strong determination, and is widely venerated in the Orthodox Church. Feast day, 11 Nov.

 
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(
c.
393–
c.
466).
Christian bishop of Cyrrhus near
Antioch
, and theologian. He was a friend and admirer of
Nestorius
and became a defender of the
Antiochene
Christology against
Cyril
of Alexandria. His writings against Cyril were later condemned at the second Council of
Constantinople
(553). Theodoret's other works include erudite biblical commentaries, a
Religious History
giving an account of monks and
ascetics
in Syria, a church history continuing that of
Eusebius
to 428, an apology
The Cure of Pagan Maladies
, and an anti-
Monophysite
work
The Beggar
(i.e. his opponent, who has ‘begged’ his various absurd doctrines).

 
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Theogonies
.

Births of gods used to give an account of the origin of the cosmos—e.g. in Hesiod, or in the primordial sacrifice of
Puru
a
in
g Veda
10. 90. Theogonies are thus a specialized form of cosmogony.

 
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Theologia Germanica
.

Anonymous 14th cent. Christian treatise on mysticism. It greatly influenced
Luther
, who edited it in 1518; though
Calvin
rejected it (as ‘a poison from the
devil’
), and Pope Paul V placed it on the
Index
. Of a tendency later known as
Quietism
, the work advocates absolute acceptance of God's will, looking for union for its own sake.

 
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