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At some time before 660 Theodore arrived in Rome and joined a community of Eastern [[monk]]s, likely at the [[monastery]] of St. Anastasias.<ref> Lapidge, ''Career of Theodore'' pp. 21-22</ref> While in Rome, he added to his already extensive Greek intellectual inheritance knowledge in both sacred and secular Latin literature.<ref>Bede, ''Historia ecclesiastica'' 4.1</ref> In 667, when Theodore was 66, the [[see]] of Canterbury, in England, became vacant. Wighard had been sent to [[Vitalian of Rome|Pope Vitalian]] in Rome by Ecgberht, king of Kent, and Oswy, king of Northumbria to be [[consecration of a bishop|consecrated]] archbishop as the successor elected to fill the see of Canterbury. But, Wighard died unexpectedly in Rome. Following Wighard's death, Pope Vitalian chose Theodore upon the recommendation of [[Adrian of Canterbury|Hadrian]]. Hadrian was Pope Vitalian’s first choice for [[archbishop]], but he refused the position and recommended Theodore instead. Theodore was [[consecration of a bishop|consecrated ]] archbishop of Canterbury in Rome on [[March 26]], 668, and left for England accompanied by Hadrian. They arrived at Canterbury on [[May 27]], 669.

Although now almost seventy years old, Theodore energetically toured throughout England surveying the English church and consecrating [[bishop]]s to sees that had been vacant for some time.<ref>Bede, ''Historia ecclesiastica'' IV.2 &mdash; appointments: Bisi as Bishop of East Anglia, Putta to Bishop of Rochester, Hlothhere to Bishop of Wessex, and Ceadda after re-consecration to Bishop of Mercia.</ref> In 672, Theodore called the [[Synod]] of Hertford to institute reforms concerning the proper celebration of Easter, episcopal authority, itinerant monks, the regular convening of subsequent synods, [[marriage ]] and prohibitions of consanguinity, and others issues.<ref>Canons of Hertford, preserved in Bede, ''Historia ecclesiastica'' IV.5</ref> He also proposed dividing the large diocese of Northumbria into smaller ones, a policy which brought him into conflict with Bishop [[Wilfrid]], whom Theodore himself had appointed to the See of York. Theodore [[deposition|deposed]] and expelled Wilfrid in 678, then divided his dioceses in the aftermath. His conflict with Wilfrid was not finally settled until 686–687.

Theodore took an active part in the school, teaching sacred music,<ref>Bede ''Historia ecclesiastica'', IV.2.</ref> introducing various texts, knowledge of Eastern saints[[saint]]s, and may even have been responsible for the introduction of the [[Litany]] of the Saints, a major liturgical innovation, into the West.<ref>Bischoff and Lapidge, ''Biblical Commentaries'' p. 172</ref> Some of his thought is accessible in the Biblical Commentaries, notes compiled by his students at the Canterbury school.<ref>B. Bischoff and M. Lapidge, Biblical Commentaries</ref> Of immense interest is the text, recently attributed to him, called ''Laterculus Malalianus''.<ref>J. Stevenson, ''The ''Laterculus Malalianus'' and the School of Archbishop Theodore''</ref> Overlooked for many years, this book was rediscovered in the 1990s, and has since been shown to contain numerous interesting elements reflecting Theodore's trans-mediterranean formation.<ref>J. Siemens, 'The Restoration of Humankind in the ''Laterculus Malalianus'', 14' in ''The Heythrop Journal''</ref>

years= [[March 26]], 668 - [[September 19]], 690|