Theophilus
Syrian proselyte who died three years before the first year of public life. He was governor of Syria, and therefore the first of its magistrates.[1] Married to Eucheria of Theophilus, an Israelite of the lineage of David, they had three children: Lazarus, Martha, and Mary of Magdala (Magdalene). Nicodemus, the Sanhedrist himself very wealthy, said of him[2]:
"The father, with his fortune and that of Eucheria of Theophilus from your (that of Jesus) tribe and your Family, had added what was a reward from the Romans to their faithful servant, and had left to his sons a considerable inheritance. But what is more important was a powerful friendship, Good than hidden, with Rome.
(...)
Truly, if the Syrian Theophilus had been a more convinced proselyte, he would not have given his children that Hellenizing education which kills so many Virtues and sows so many voluptuous desires. Drunk and eliminated without harmful consequences by Lazarus and especially by Martha, it contaminated Mary, who developed in her passionate nature and made her the scourge of her Family and Palestine!"[3]
Character and Appearance[edit | edit source]
He and his woman leave a memory of kindness, uprightness, and generosity.[4]
His name[edit | edit source]
לתאופי (Theophilus).[5]
Theophilus is a Greek name meaning "who loves God".
Where is he mentioned in the work?[edit | edit source]
EMV 116
EMV 322
EMV 543 EMV 546 EMV 562
EMV 645
More information about this character[edit | edit source]
The "Golden Legend" of Blessed Jacques de Voragine (of Varazze) 1230-1298[6] gives information close to that of Maria Valtorta:"Mary, called Magdalene, from the castle of Magdalon, was born of the most illustrious parents, since they descended from the royal race. Her father was named Syrus and her mother Eucharie."The visions of Anne-Catherine Emmerich, despite all their editorial difficulties, echo some points: powerful Syrian ancestor, high lineage of his Israelite woman...
"Lazarus’s grandfather was a dispossessed Syrian prince, whose son was born in the region that the three wise men crossed on their return from Bethlehem. He took advantage of the War to acquire great wealth in Galilee and near Jerusalem. He had become a Jew, and had married a young girl from a very distinguished Pharisee family. His son, Lazarus, possessed a very large estate at Bethany, […] Magdalene was the youngest of Lazarus’s sisters..."[7]Theophilus does not appear in the list of Roman governors of Syria. Jean-François Lavère, one of the specialists of Maria Valtorta’s work, proposes that he was a local prince whose services the Romans were accustomed to enlist. An example is found with Judea or the Trachonite, governed by Herod or Philip.