Theodore (Latin: Theodorus) was the bishop of Marseille from at least 566 until 591/594.[1] In the 580s, Theodore was at the centre of a dispute over the city of Marseille between King Guntram and his nephew, King Childebert II. He was arrested several times. His troubles are recorded by the contemporary historian Gregory of Tours, who depicts him as a saintly albeit powerless figure who was supported by the laity, but opposed by his own clergy.[2]
Venantius Fortunatus, in a poem of 566, asks Dynamius of Marseille to greet his bishop, Theodore, and his metropolitan, Sapaudus of Arles.[3] The city of Marseille was at the time the most important Mediterranean port in Merovingian Francia.[4]
In 581, while he was on his way to Childebert's court, Theodore was arrested by Dynamius, then governor of Provence. The former governor, Jovinus, was arrested at the same time. The clergy of Marseille, immediately acted as if he was dead. The charges against him, which are unknown, were eventually dropped and he was escorted back to the city by Duke Gundulf, one of Childebert's men. Dynamius then accused of him of plotting against Guntram and again had him arrested. He was sent to Guntram, but the charges were dropped a second time and he was released.[5]
In 582, the Merovingian claimant Gundovald landed in Marseille to make a bid for a throne with Byzantine backing. He was formally greeted by Theodore, who was consequently arrested by Guntram Boso on charges of treason. He claimed to have been acting on the orders of Childebert. Acquitted before Guntram, he nonetheless remained in prison for some time.[6]
テオドールは585年までにマルセイユに戻っていたが、グントラムは前年のキルペリク1世暗殺の責任を彼に負わせた。ヒルデベルトは公爵ラタールにテオドールを逮捕させ、追放しようとしていたグントラムのもとへ送った。[ 6 ]グントラムとヒルデベルトはトロワで共同で教会会議を招集したが、ヒルデベルトも反対していたとされるテオドールの訴追計画のため、後者の王国の司教たちは出席を拒否した。[ 7 ]その後585年、テオドールはグントラムが自分の件を話し合うためにマコンで招集した教会会議に出席した。[ 8 ]グントラムが病に倒れると、テオドールは釈放された。[ 6 ]
591年6月、テオドロスとアルルの司教ヴィルギリウスは、教皇グレゴリウス1世から手紙を受け取り、「ユダヤ教徒の非常に多くの人々が、様々な用事でマルセイユ地方を時折訪れ、その地域に定住しているユダヤ人の多くが、説教よりも強制的に洗礼を受けさせられていると知らせてきた」と知らされた。教皇はテオドロスとヴィルギリウスに、ユダヤ人の強制洗礼を中止するよう命じた。[ 9 ]
マルセイユ司教区はテオドロスを聖人として記念し、2月3日に彼の祝日を祝っている。[ 10 ] 2004年の改訂版ローマ殉教者伝では1月2日に記載されているが、一般ローマ暦には記載されていない。[ 11 ]