Blessed Prince Theodore of Novgorod, elder brother of Saint Alexander Nevsky, was born in 1218. From an early age he represented his father’s authority in Novgorod together with his brother and later took part in a campaign against the Mordvin princes.
In 1233 he was to marry the daughter of Saint Michael of Chernigov, but he suddenly died on the eve of the wedding. His bride, Princess Feodoulia, became a nun and was glorified as Venerable Euphrosyne of Suzdal.
Prince Theodore was buried in Yuriev Monastery in Novgorod. In 1614, after the Swedes desecrated the monastery, his incorrupt relics were transferred by Metropolitan Isidore to Saint Sophia Cathedral. In the 18th century Metropolitan Gavriil composed a service in his honor, and a church dedicated to him was built in the Alexander Nevsky Lavra.
