Theodora of Wallachia

Theodora
Empress consort of Bulgaria
Tenure1331–1345
BornWallachia
DiedBulgaria
SpouseIvan Alexander of Bulgaria
IssueMichael Asen IV
Ivan Sratsimir
Ivan Asen IV
DynastyBasarab
FatherBasarab I of Wallachia
MotherDoamna Margareta
ReligionBulgarian Orthodox

Theodora (Bulgarian: Теодора) of Wallachia was the daughter of Basarab I of Wallachia (r. 1310–1352) and Lady Margareta.[1][2] She married Ivan Alexander of Bulgaria as his first wife. This marriage produced four children — Michael Asen, Ivan Sratsimir, Ivan Asen and Vasilisa. In 1345 Tsar Ivan Alexander divorced Tsaritsa Theodora and sent her into a monastery as a nun under the name Teofana.

She is considered the first known nun in Romanian history and in 2022 she was canonized by the Romanian Orthodox Church under the name of Venerable Theopahno Basarab. Her feast day was chosen to be 28 October.[3]

  1. ^ P. P. Panaitescu, Mircea cel Bătrân, Corint, București, 2000, p. 37 and p. 45, n. 25
  2. ^ Constantin C. Giurescu, Istoria Românilor, All Educaţional, București, 2003, p. 299-300
  3. ^ Patriarchate of Romania (19 February 2022). "Holy Synod of the Romanian Orthodox Chrurch canonises Saint Theophano Basarab, first known Romanian nun". Orthodox Times. Retrieved 25 May 2022.