TEODORICO (DIETRICH) OF APOLDA. - Dominican theologian, born in Apolda in Thuringia in 1228, died c. 1297. He entered the Dominicans in 1240 at Erfurt. He wrote (c. 1290) a Vita s. Dominici.
Quétif-Echard (v. BIBLICA) and others distinguish him from Teodorico of Thuringia, author of a Vita s. Elisabeth which is historically well-founded; indeed, stylistic differences are observed. The question of the origin of the two works cannot yet be resolved. Indications that should not be overlooked for the identity of the author are the similarity of name, Order, time of composition, complaints about poor eyesight, as well as the care taken to have and indicate reliable sources, and finally the construction of the 20th prologue of the Vita s. Dominici and the Vita s. Elisabeth.
The spirituality of the Dominican Order stands out in the Vita s. Dominici as genuinely Christocentric, with the predominance of the gifts of the Holy Spirit.