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.
[poll id="178"]
268 comments on “Odo of Cluny vs. Theodore the Studite”
I vote on behalf of the fourth graders at St. Stephen's & St. Agnes School in Alexandria, VA. Today the cumulative vote of the 4 sections went to Odo. Although they were disappointed at the lack of rolling heads and popping eyeballs, they did respect the achievements of both these holy men. Perhaps it was the 3-year headache that swung the vote. Go, Odo!
Having never heard of Theodore I am delighted to make his acquaintance. My vote goes to him for his engagement with art, his willingness to speak truth to power, and his foresight in condemning slavery. And also in great thanksgiving for the wonderful staff at Sarum College, and the MA in Theology, Imagination and Culture, which I am sure Theodore appears in.
I voted for Odo because he did not negotiate for power against power, but spoke to power, regardless of the cost to him.
Good job, Madre Katherine on the radio yesterday! So glad none other than Bob Valvano took the time to spotlight this amazing tournament!!!
A stand against slavery was the deciding factor for me.
Theodore the Studite, defender of icons during the second Iconoclastic Controversy, was the subject of my History of Christian Doctrine paper at Perkins. Among his other admirable qualities were toughness and persistence. As we say in Texas about such people, many centuries later, "He didn't have sense enough to know he was licked." He gets my vote, of course.
Greetings from a SMU Meadows alumni who lived in Martin Hall and knew the best lunch on campus was at Perkins' Refectory.
#PonyUp
I voted for Odo because all the other monks needed payment to pray and they had scrumptious feasts and left the poor and hungry. Odo didn't.
Abby and Will's mum agreed but really liked the collect for Theodore - what a beautiful prwyer!
This was the hardest choice so far for me. In the end I agreed with Oliver--saying no to slavery was the decider.
This was a close one for me: two monastics with a strong commitment to the ascetic life. The thing that swung it for me was (as many others wrote as well) was Theodore's opposition to slavery (as well as his love of icons).
Oh, pshaw! Here I go again! Eeny, meeny, miney, moe. . .which one to choose, Ted or Odo?
Their life spans overlap. They operate in different geographical areas and traditions, yet their spiritual truths are twins. I'm going with Oliver for the same reason he gave, bless his heart!
Along with Bernard of Clairvaux, Br. of Roger of Taize' has a connection to the spiritual legacy of Cluny (and therefore in a way, Odo). The monastery had a growing influence in Europe after Odo. At one time, the Abbey Church grew to be even bigger than St. Peter's in Rome. Due to its historic importance, Br. Roger was attracted to the region for his study of monastic spirituality, and he settled in a small village closeby to Cluny, the now famous Taize'. The linkage to Br. Roger might be indirect and weak at best, but it still got me to vote for Odo. Taize; was an important part of my spiritual discernment for my vocation, and I love Cluny and the surrounding area. It is Lent Madness, so I don't need a better reason than that.
Theo the anti-slavery poet? Yes please!
Theodore because antislavery
This Oblate voted for Odo, a reformer in the mold of St. Benedict himself.
This was a tough one, but as an Oblate I had to go with Odo.
Hodor
This deserved a close vote. So many reasons for both, but since I am in a group of individuals trying to live the rule, I had to go with Odo
At first I wasn't impressed with either but Theo's story began to build. I had already made up my mind by the time I read that he promoted the role of the visual arts in church. As a liturgical artist who gives programs on iconography this vote became a no-brainer.
Effectively built a school, is that Ted Ed, then?
I had to go with the floggings for calling out sexual impropriety among other things, the brilliance of networking, and poetry.
Theo's work on the use of icons in worship and his anti-slavery stance won my vote.
I wish I could have voted for BOTH of them. Two men who spoke the truth to power, and we need that right now. I voted for Odo, because those monks who accepted gifts in exchange for favors, feasted while others went hungry, and reveled in their wealth sound too much like a lot of those in positions of authority today. God of grace, thank you for the example of your servant Odo. Grant that we, in our own time and ways, would ever seek your will in our lives.
My name is Zoey and I voted for Theodore because he was one of the first against slavery.
Have to go with Odo for just saying okay my dad made a promise and I should keep it. Then throwing away finery cause of a rule book no one else really followed. The guy had great Intergrity.
Theodore, because he spoke out against slavery!
As a follower of St. Martin, it has to be Odo.....
This was a close call. In the end I went with Theodore the Studite because he was one of the first to make a stand against slavery and wrote poems.
They seem like a matched set but the bit about getting the mail through rang a bell with me. The 13 colonies were already united because Ben Franklin made sure that each colonial legislature got the minutes of all the others as soon as the votes were taken. Ben was just channeling Theodore.
Odo was one of my nominees (along with unchosen Odilo, a subsequent abbot at Cluny), so, of course, I wanted to vote for him.
I voted for Theodore the studious Studite.....
first recorded Christian theological stand against slavery