The Venerable Prince Theodore of Novgorod, the elder brother of Saint Alexander Nevsky, was born in 1218. From an early age, he and his brother represented their father's authority in the region of Novgorod. As he grew older, he took part in a military campaign against the Mordvins.
In 1233, he was to marry the daughter of Saint Michael of Chernigov. However, he suddenly died on the eve of the wedding. His fiancée, Princess Theodoulia, embraced the monastic life and was glorified as Saint Euphrosyne of Suzdal.
Saint Theodore was buried in the Monastery of Saint George in Novgorod. In 1614, after the monastery was destroyed by the Swedes, his incorrupt relics were transferred by Metropolitan Isidore to the Cathedral of the Wisdom of God. In the eighteenth century, Metropolitan Gabriel composed a hymn in his honour and consecrated a church dedicated to his memory.
