Account of the Repentance of Theophilus

Life

Out of envy toward the bishop, Theophilus surrendered his soul to the devil and renounced in writing both Christ and the Theotokos. But afterward Theophilus bitterly repented, wept for forgiveness from the Most Pure One after a forty-day fast and tearful prayers, received back the written document that he had given to the devil, and publicly confessed his sin in the church before the bishop and the people. And when the bishop pronounced his forgiveness and communed him, the face of Theophilus shone like the sun. Here is an example of how the merciful God not only forgives the sins of true penitents but even numbers them among the saints.