Theophylact of Bulgaria

Theophylact of Ohrid
Icon of Theophylact
Born	~1050 Euripus, Euboea
Died	1107+
Venerated in	Eastern Orthodox Church
Feast	December 31
Patronage	Ohrid

Theophylact of Ohrid (Greek Θεοφύλακτος, surname¨Ηφαιστος, Bulgarian Теофилакт Охридски, Serbian Теофилакт Охридски, also known as Theophylact of Bulgaria) (around 1055–after 1107) was a Greek archbishop of Ohrid and commentator on the Bible.

He was born most probably at Euripus, in Euboea, about the middle of the 11th century. He became a deacon at Constantinople, attained a high reputation as a scholar, and became the tutor of Constantine Ducas, son of the Emperor Michael VII, for whom he wrote The Education of Princes. About 1078 he went into Bulgaria as archbishop of Achrida (modern Ohrid).

Ohrid was one of the capital cities of the First Bulgarian Empire that had been conquered by the Byzantines sixty years earlier. In this demanding position in a conquered territory on the outskirts of the Byzantine Empire, he conscientiously and energetically carried out his pastoral duties over the course of the next twenty years. Although a Byzantine by upbringing and outlook, he was a diligent archpastor of the Bulgarian Church, defending its interests and autonomy (i.e. its independence from the Patriarchate of Constantinople). He acted vigorously to protect his archdiocese from the teachings of the Paulicians and Bogomils (considered heresy by the Orthodox Church). He won the respect and love of the Bulgarian people who witnessed his labors on their behalf.