Theodora of Alexandria: a gender-fluid fifth-century desert mother?

The legend of Theodora of Alexandria is a 5^e century story about sex, gender fluidity and deception.

Theodora was a beautiful married woman who, in a moment of sexual passion, cheated on her husband with another man. Her guilt over this indiscretion led her to a life of penance in the desert. So Theodora cut her hair and pretended to be a man named Theodore to join an ascetic community of desert monks (since the Desert Fathers considered women too great a temptation to live among them).

Living a necessary lie

For the rest of her life, Theodore/Theodora fooled everyone, including a young woman who attempted a failed seduction. When the young woman turned out to be pregnant, she named Theodore as the father (as a trap), without realizing that this was biologically impossible. As a result, the baby boy and Theodore left the community and lived in poverty for seven years. Theodore chose exile rather than reveal the truth about her biological sex.

Atonement for someone else’s sin

Throughout all of this, Theodore/Theodora accepted this harsh treatment as punishment from God for that one incident of extramarital sex. Yet she was a sought-after teacher of the spiritual life. She remained committed to a life of integrity, patience and care for those she served.

Neither asceticism, nor vigilance, nor any form of suffering can save; only true humility can do that. -Theodora

The truth revealed

Just before Theodore/Theodora died, the abbot of the community had a vision that revealed the truth about this non-binary monk. Biologically he was a woman. While dressing the body, they discovered her secret. The monastic leaders contacted Theodora’s husband and brought him to the monastery to become a monk, where he spent his days in the desert community, serving God and honoring Theodora.

Theodora is now considered one of the Desert Mothers whose teachings can be found in the Sayings of the Desert Fathers. She is a saint in the Orthodox Christian Church.