How could you NOT love a matchup between a guy named Odo and another guy who is known as a Studite? Meet Odo of Cluny and Theodore the Studite (spoiler alert for those getting ready to leave a comment: autocorrect does not like "Studite." At all.)
Yesterday, in the most lopsided battle of Lent Madness 2017, Florence Nightingale routed Anselm of Canterbury 81% to 19%. She will move on to face Henry Beard Delany in the Saintly Sixteen.
And, finally, it's not everyday that ESPN covers that other famous bracket tournament that takes place in March. But recently ESPN radio in Louisville, Kentucky, interviewed passionate Lent Madness booster, the Rev. Katherine Doyle of St. Thomas Episcopal Church, about everyone's favorite online Lenten devotion. Take a listen as she appeared on the Bob Valvano show. It's a great segment which you can listen to by clicking here (the spot in question begins at 21:30 of the broadcast). Nice job!
Odo of Cluny
Odo was born circa 879 in France. Odo’s father Abbo secretly dedicated his son to Saint Martin, sending him to a priest for education and formation. But as Odo grew, he became a hale and hearty young man—much more suited, in his father’s opinion, to the life of a noble warrior. Abbo sent Odo to live at the court of one of the dukes of Aquitaine.
Odo recounts that while praying and singing one day in court, he was seized with a violent pain in his head. He suffered for three years until his father confessed his promise to dedicate his son to Saint Martin. Soon after, Odo received the tonsure—the practice of some monks to shave the crown of the head—and served at St. Martin’s Church in Tours.
After reading the Rule of Saint Benedict, Odo was horrified to realize how much his life (and the lives of his brother monks at Tours) deviated from the Rule. Monks at Tours discarded their habits in favor of the fashion of the day and often received gifts from noblemen in exchange for prayers. They wore expensive shoes and refused to walk outside for night prayers to avoid ruining their shoes. They ate lavish meals while ignoring the hungry.
Odo committed himself to living the Rule of Saint Benedict. He discarded his personal property, ate meager rations, and prayed fervently. He embraced the ascetic life and spoke out against the evils of the church of his time—ecclesiastical abuses, lack of prayer, and the oppression of the poor.
Odo entered the monastery at Baume where the Rule of Saint Benedict was strictly followed. Odo would eventually be appointed Abbot of Cluny. Odo visited Rome several times, negotiating peace between the violent power politics of warring nobles and the church. Monasteries in Italy and France summoned him to instill reform within their own walls.
Odo’s legacy is seen in the great age of monasteries, places where worship, care for the poor, and art flourished. His deep spirituality gives us insight into his zeal and commitment to reform holy orders. Odo died in 942 in Tours after assisting with worship on the Feast Day of Saint Martin of Tours.
Collect for Odo of Cluny
God of grace, you hear the promises we freely offer and see the hidden desires of every heart. We thank you for the example of your servant Odo, who zealously sought righteousness and lived out holy community in his life and work. Grant that we, in our own time and ways, would ever seek your will in our lives, to the honor of your son, our Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.
Theodore the Studite
Theodore the Studite (759-826), also known as St. Theodore of Stoudios, was a Greek Orthodox monk. Born in 759, he grew up in a prominent bureaucratic family in Constantinople, receiving a private education that eventually came to be heavily focused around theology.
Theodore’s maternal uncle Platon encouraged the whole family to take monastic vows and transform the family farm into a monastery. Theodore, his father, and his sister joined Platon in 781 and sailed to Bithynia in northwest Asia Minor near the Black Sea. Following the guidance of the Greek bishop, Basil of Caesarea, they established a community that came to be known as the Sakkudion Monastery.
Shortly after Theodore was ordained a priest, Uncle Platon—the abbot of the Sakkudion—took a permanent vow of silence and handed control of the monastery to his nephew. Theodore did well running the Sakkudion Monastery, despite his persistent habit of denouncing the emperor’s divorce and remarriage. This led to years of exile, fights with and floggings from emperors, patriarchs, iconoclasts, and difficult popes. Ultimately, after lots of fasting, praying, and writing iambic verse about icons and clean living, Theodore revived the monastic community of Stoudios in Constantinople
Theodore built Stoudios into a major scholastic and artistic center. Under his leadership, Stoudios became known for its literary output. Theodore devised what amounted to a private mail system for the network of monasteries in and around Constantinople and wrote poems enshrining the community’s rule of life in an easy-to-remember form. Aside from his monastic innovations and reforms, Theodore is best known for two great works: the theological treatise On Holy Icons, a pivotal and foundational work for the use of icons in worship, and a letter he wrote instructing his followers not to own slaves—the first recorded Christian theological stand against slavery.
Collect for Theodore the Studite
Gracious God, who speaks to us in both the complexity of art and the quiet of simplicity, we thank you for your servant Theodore the Studite, who reminded your Church of the many ways in which you are present. Grant us, we pray, the eyes to see you wherever and whenever you appear, that we may see your glory in all your creation, and especially through Jesus Christ your Son, our Lord. Amen.
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268 comments on “Odo of Cluny vs. Theodore the Studite”
Me too Oliver. I also liked that he made it easier by his writings to follow the rule.
This will be close
Loved that Theodore's defense of icons and his speaking out against slavery. But I voted for Odo, the peacemaker and the restorer of the monastic rule.
Tough call again! I was impressed by Theodore's participation in the conversion of a family farm into a community in which men and women followed a life of prayer and simplicity, rather like the community founded by George Herbert--and like Herbert, Theodore taught through the medium of poetry. His stand against slavery appeals to me as an American--it may be our worst national sin, one for which we continue to pay dearly--and his arguments for icons is a reminder that God draws us to Himself through all "the beauty of the earth," including beauty that we ourselves, through His grace, have created. Odoin hi was a great reformer in his day, and the Rule of Saint Benedict has been a powerful incentive to further the Kingdom of God for believers and non-believers alike so this was indeed a difficult choice. I look forward to many more such choices in future rounds!
As someone who has tried to reform a community from within, I had to go with Odo! Plus DS9 reference, come on!!!
For me, the most difficult choice of vote yet. I decided to choose Odo, because the Benedictine Rule so closely follows the example of Christ! However, I applaud Theodore for his early stand against slavery and his use of icons in worship!
A communicator and an educator - Theo gets my vote.
I have a deep fascination for large complex systems, and the chain of Cluniac monasteries was/is one of them. That Odo had also to do some reforming so early in their rise sounds like Church to me. And to the US Cluny Football club -- play on lads!
Wow! Close matchup! Best one yet! Been laughing out loud at many of the comments today. Anyway, I voted for the Studite.
Finally! Who cares who wins. I was drawn to Odo, but voted for The Studite because of his monastic innovations and his stand against slavery.
Odo got my vote because of his efforts for peace and for reform from within the community of monasteries.
Our other candidate did write to vanish the practice of slavery, but we don't know why from this writing. Did he consider them humans as himself? We just don't know the reason.
We need testimony against slavery these days, but I voted for Odo in honor of my son's long struggle with chronic migraines. Which in his case, has turned out to be a neurological sensitivity to gluten! Who knew?
This was a tough one today. Had to vote for Odo because he was a reformer.
Just finished listening to the interview between Bob Valvano and Katherine Doyle. Not only was it a delight to hear, but I was impressed with the extended amount of time given to the interview. Good job Katherine and Bob!
I also found my decision difficult. Much to admire and emulate in both men. Odo seems a man for the US right now. Caring for the poor, eliminating corruption in the church and state. I'm for that stuff more than ever, right now.
I voted for Odo...glad he won; for his zeal in reforming lavish lifestyles in the church, his sincerity and dedication. At the end of the Studite's biog, when I saw he was against slavery, I was tempted to vote for him; both are good and noble men....but Odo won out for me. (My phone posted "studite" correctly;I'm kind of disappointed....) 😉
Good matchups today! I had to go with Theo, love those icons.
This was the first really hard one for me. Odo appealed greatly, because of his renunciation of wealth. I made a different choice when young, more or less, and wonder about the path not taken.
But, I am a total sucker for theology and scholarship in the monastic community. And to be the first to write theologically on slavery is an astonishing accomplishment.
I love Star Trek: Deep Space Nine as much as the next guy, but I went with Theo for the icons!
Ha! I went with Theodore for his anti-slavery stance and that he wrote iambic verse/poems.
First recorded Christian anti-slavery declaration. That alone requires my vote! Vote for the Studite!
I voted for Theodore. I feel that he had more foresight and was way ahead of his time in his acts and deeds.
i voted for our favorite Studite, Theodore. As an artist I strive to be a window for God's inspiration in the little ordinary things. As Icon writers fo, I strive to let the Holy Spirit guide my hands, head and heart as i work to make my pottery pieces.
Loved the collect.
Loved the Hymn!!!Thanks!
Please don't use third person singular verbs when addressing God in the collects. It's nonsensical!
Please don't use third person singular verbs when addressing God in the collects. It's nonsensical!
Odo had me until I read that Theodore was opposed to slavery.
The two are almost the same, but I was swayed by the positive step Ted took to admonish others not to own slaves. And with a moniker like that, how can I pass this one up?
Theo for me -
Love icons, hate slavery
Easy call
(Ok - not easy- Lent Madness never is - is that why it's called madness?)
I'm impressed by Theodore's invention of a mail system - communication is good, and certainly had to be difficult in the 8th century. And by his poetry, which he also used to communicate in a beautiful and memorable manner. Theodore gets my vote today.
I think it's possible Theodore's anti slavery stance was directed only at the monasteries and the monks who should be doing their own work regardless of how menial. However, it could be considered a bold statement anyway.
How can one choose between two faithful monks? It was so close for me, that I ended up voting for Odo, because that's the name of my favorite Star Trek:DS9 character!
Though I was not familiar with Odo of Cluny nor have I visited Cluny Abbey in France..I have been to the Musee national du Moyen Age in Paris ... this made me think of Odo... and to give him my vote.