Theodora – Armenian Empress Of Byzantium

Theodora was a Byzantine empress, the wife of the Byzantine emperor Theophilos, and the regent of her son Michael III in 842–855 after the death of Theophilos.

Originally from Paphlagonia, Theodora was of Armenian aristocratic origin. Theodora is also known as a saint in the Eastern Orthodox Church. Her holiday is celebrated on February 11th. She is the patroness of churches.

The Byzantine Empire, also known as the Eastern Roman Empire, was a predominantly Greek-speaking continuation of the eastern half of the Roman Empire during the late antiquity and the Middle Ages.

The empire’s capital was Constantinople (modern Istanbul), originally founded as Byzantium. Byzantium survived the fragmentation of the 5th century along with the fall of the Western Roman Empire and continued to exist for another thousand years until falling apart and ending up in the hands of the Ottoman Turks in 1453.

SOURCE: “THE HISTORY OF THE ARMENIAN PEOPLE – From Ancient Times to the Present Day”, Jacques de Morgan.