Dear Cecilianus,
You raise a large number of fascinating points of discussion!
From my POV, St Theodora was under suspicion simply because of her ecumenical stance toward the Miaphysites (in an age not particularly known for irenical attitudes). She was entrusted with this project by her husband himself who wanted reunion with the Miaphysites and he even told their leaders that the excommunications pronounced against their teachers “could be withdrawn by a future reunion Council.”
It was largely thanks to St Theodora that we have the hymn “O Only Begotten Son and Word . . .” in our liturgy (written by the Miaphysite teacher, Severus of Antioch).
The Byzantine polemicists sought to discredit her by every possible means, as a result. That is nothing new when it comes to saints or famous historical personages.
St Athanasius of Brest was WILDLY popular among Eastern Catholics because he stood up to the Poles who were imposing a Latinized form of spirituality on them. For example, they were sending out gendarmes to the villages to ensure that the Filioque was pronounced during the singing of the Creed etc.
The Polish Jesuits became very concerned about the popularity of St Athanasius among EC’s and his pilgrimage on September 18th that they actually moved the feast day of St Josaphat to September 16th to try and dislodge that veneration (I’ve an old EC office-book that lists St Josaphat’s feast day on September 16th - Met. Andrew Sheptytsky later moved it back to November 25th). St Athanasius was martyred by “true Catholics” as you’ve said - in that case I don’t want to have anything to do with such “Catholics.”
St Cyril Lukaris is truly a controversial figure - again because of bad press that was unchecked for a long time by the Orthodox church authorities. But the Ecumenical Patriarchate itself has pronounced favourably on St Cyril and dismissed the charges of Calvinism against him. All that Cyril Lukaris was guilty of was being a very effective defender of his Church and people. The Ukrainian Orthodox have privately venerated him as “one of their own” because he was martyred by the Turks on the charge that he had close relations with the Kozaks and was encouraging them to fight the Turks etc. This is mentioned in the Ukrainian language book by Met. Ilarion Ohienko “The canonization of Saints in the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.” I think we can get over the bad press St Cyril was subject to in time . . . And I don’t think there is a requirement to have to like the Jesuits and their historic political chicanery as a precondition to being a good Catholic!
As for Jan Hus, he died a Catholic priest, although defrocked. Bl. John Paul had expressed his public sorrow that Hus was done to death and RC prelates attend the annual commemoration of Jan Hus in Prague (which occured two days ago).
He was much admired by the Ukrainian poet Taras Shevchenko who wrote in his poem to Shafarik: Accept my duma about the holy Czech, the great martyr, the glorious Hus!"
Hus was seen by ROC teachers in the 19th century as beckoning people back to the traditions of the Cyril and Methodian traditions of his country. The Czech Orthodox Church commemorates Hus publicly (as for one who has reposed) on July 6th, together with Jerome of Prague, King George of Podebrady, Michal Polak and the 240+ Hussite martyrs of Kutna Hora. I’ve articles in Czech by Orthodox who promote the idea of the public, liturgical veneration of Hus in the Czech Orthodox Church (whose veneration is already widespread there).
And Jerome of Prague, Hus’s friend in the same cause, was baptized an Orthodox Christian in Latvia (they now have his original baptismal certificate) and there are “voices within the Czech Orthodox Church” that promote his canonization as well.
The movement to rehabilitate Hus is underway in the RC Church and is especially being promoted by certain elements within the Catholic Church in Germany.
Hus promoted purity among the clergy and otherwise decried clerical materialism. He opposed the collection and mining of Czech silver for purposes of supporting religious wars, promoted the use of the national language in the Liturgy and in sermons, Communion in both Kinds. He had a great devotion to the Mother of God and affirmed her heavenly Assumption.
Jan Hus died forgiving his enemies, pronouncing the Creed and reciting the Jesus Prayer as the flames of the stake enveloped him.
The Jesuits in Bohemia became likewise concerned that Catholics were venerating Hus as a national saint/martyr and so the controversy over the cultus of St John Nepomucene developed (very much like that of St Josaphat).
In 1963, Rome quietly dropped St John Nepomucene from the universal calendar.
Alex
