On the
Seventeenth Day
Of the
Month of February
The Passion of the Holy
Great-Martyr
Theodore
Tyron
The impious rulers Maximian and
Maximin published throughout the
Brincus commanded, “Put on your armor and bring your weapons, Theodor. You are about to sacrifice to the gods, as a soldier should.”
“I an a soldier of Jesus Christ and of no one else,” replied Theodore.
The Praepositus said, “Many of my troops are Christians, yet loyally serve the Emperor.”
“Every man knows whom he serves,” the saint retorted. “I fight for my Master and King, the God of heaven, and for His Only-begotten Son.”
The centurion Posidonius asked, “Does your God have a son, Theodore?”
“He does indeed: the Word of truth, through Whom He created all things,” explained the saint.
“Can we come to know Him? Inquired the Praepositus.
Theodore said, “I would be delighted if God ranted you to know His Son.”
Posidonius asked, “If we come to knowledge of Him, can we serve Him instead of our emperors?”
“Nothing hinders you from abandoning darkness and your mortal rulers and becoming, like me, a soldier of the living God, the true King and Master,” Saint Theodore assured him.
Brincus told the centurion, “We shall give Theodore a few days to decide what is to his benefit.”
During the time allotted, the saint prayed unceasingly, glorifying the Lord. Meanwhile, the heathen turned their fury on citizens of Amaseia, arresting them for fidelity to Christ and haling them to prison. Saint Theodore followed them there, shouting encouragement to remain steadfast, continue on the path to salvation, and confess Christ the King. One night, not long after the Christians were imprisoned, Theodore burned down the temple of the mother of the gods. Pagans saw him lighting the fire and reported him to the mayor, Cronides. Fearing that if he failed to act he would be accused of collusion, Cronides arrested Theodore and turned him over to Governor Publius, saying, “Your Excellency, this recruit is an arsonist who disdains the gods and has burned down the sanctuary of their mother; therefore, I have apprehended and brought him to you, that he may receive a fitting punishment for his crimes, as ordered by our emperors, the divine masters of the whole world.”
The Governor then summoned Brincus and asked, “Did you authorize this man to destroy the temple of the mother-goddess?”
The Praepositus answered, “More than once I urged him to sacrifice to the gods, and finally gave him several days to decide whether he would do so. If the charges are true then it is clear that he continues to scorn the gods and the imperial decree. As judge, you must sentence him as required by the emperor.”
At this time the Governor mounted his tribunal and asked the blessed one, “Did you burn down the sanctuary of our goddess? Why did you do such a thing, rather than offer her oblations and incense?”
“I indeed destroyed your temple, without assistance. Why is your goddess incapable of warding off flames?” Theodore countered.
Angered by this reply, the Governor ordered Theodore flogged. He said , “My patience encourages your impudence; but know that the cruelest tortures await you if you fail to obey the imperial edict.”
“I am not afraid of you or your tortures, no matter how cruel,” replied Saint Theodore. “Do as you wish. The expectation of future reward gives me courage. I intend to win the garland plaited for me by the Lord.”
“Sacrifice to the gods, Theodore, and escape the torments awaiting you,” the Governor advised. Otherwise, you perish miserably.”
“I repeat, I am not afraid of your tortures,” said Theodore. “My Lord and God Jesus Christ is with me and shall preserve me amid torment. You cannot see Him, because your inner eyes are blind.”
This enraged the Governor, who roared like a lion and cast the saint into prison. A seal was set on the doors, and the guards were commanded to let Theodore die of hunger, but the blessed one was fed by angels. That night the Lord appeared and said, “Take courage, Theodore, I am with you. Do not accept earthly food or drink, for unending life with Me awaits you in the heavens.” With this, the Lord vanished.
Saint Theodore was overjoyed by the Saviour’s visitation and chanted jubilantly. A multitude of angels joined him in song, and the guards, hearing this, checked the doors, but found them still locked and sealed. Peering through a little window, they saw a large choir of men dressed in white, and ran to tell Publius. The Governor hurried to the prison and confired that the doors were locked and the seals intact and he also heard the chanting. Thinking that somehow Christians had entered, he posted soldiers around the dungeon. Then he entered, but found no one except God’s servant Theodore, shackled as before. The Governor and his men trembled with fear and hurried out, locking the doors behind them. After this incident the judge ordered that Theodore be given a little bread and water; but since the Scriptures say, The just shall live by faith, Theodore left them untouched and told the guards, “Jesus Christ, my Lord and God, shall feed me.”
The next day Publius again mounted the tribunal and ordered the saint brought to him. He said, “Obey my command, Theodore, and do not force me to torture you. If you sacrifice to the great gods, I promise to write a letter to our emperors, the lords of the whole world, requesting that they make you a high priest. You will equal me in rank and enjoy universal respect.”
Saint Theodore looked up to heaven, crossed himself, and answered, “Even if you burn or tear off my flesh, behead me, or feed me to beast, I will never renounce Christ.”
The persecutor took counsel with Brincus, then commanded that Theodore be suspended from a tree and raked with iron claws until his bones were visible. The blessed one said nothing to the Governor, but chanted, I will bless the Lord at all times, His praise shall continually be in my mouth.
The Governor was amazed by Theodore’s patience and bravery, but nevertheless taunted him, “Are you not ashamed, O most pitiable of men, to put your hope in Christ, Who was executed as a malefactor? How can you be so foolish as to embrace suffering and death for such a person?”
“May all who call upon the name of my Lord Jesus Christ share in the shame of His crucifixion! Exclaimed the holy martyr.
At this the mob demanded Theodore’s immediate death, and a herald shouted on Publius’ behalf, “Are you willing to sacrifice to the gods, or do you wish to be further punished>”
“Impious son of the devil, full of all uncleanness and deception, have you no fear of God, Who granted you power? It is with God’s permission that kings reign and tyrants rule over the earth,” Theodore said boldly. “Why do you insist, Publius, that I forsake the living God and adore lifeless stone?”
After pondering this for a long time, the judge asked, “With whom do you choose to be: with us or Christ?”
“I have been, am, and ever shall be with Christ!” Saint Theodore joyfully cried. “now do as you intend.”
Convinced that Theodore would persevere to the end and that no torture would conquer him, the Governor issued the sentence of death. He wrote, “For refusing to submit to the authority of the glorious emperors and mighty gods, and persisting in believing in Jesus Christ, Who was crucified under Pontius Pilate (as the Jews say), Theodore is to be burnt alive.”
The persecutor’s decision was quickly carried out. Publius’ servants requisitioned firewood from nearby homes and bathhouses, and built an enormous pyre, which the blessed Theodore mounted. After the saint had traced the sign of the Cross upon his forehead and other parts of his body, the servants lit the wood. The Holy Spirit descended and cooled the flames, allowing the martyr to praise and glorify God while standing in the fire. Saint Theodore peacefully surrendered his spirit to the Lord, and the onlookers saw his blessed soul flashing in the sky like lightning while it ascended to heaven, as writes the author of his Passion, an eyewitness.
Eusebia, a devout and virtuous
woman, obtained the corpse of the illustrious martyr, anointed it with fragrant
oils, wrapped it in a clean shroud, and buried it beneath the floor of her house
in Euchaita, a suffragan bishopric of the metropolis of Amaseia. Every year on
the day of his death, she celebrated the sacred memory of Saint Theodore,
Christ’s holy martyr met his end on the seventeenth of February in the year 316
while the persecutor Maximian ruled the
Amen.
Concerning the
Miraculous
Appearance of the Holy
Great-martyr
Theodore
Tyron
After the death of Constantius, son of Constantine the Great, Julian the Apostate became Roman Emperor. Having renounced Christ and embraced the worship of idols, he began persecuting the Church both openly and secretly. Because he feared that the sight of Christ’s sufferers patiently enduring torture would further increase the number of defectors from paganism, Julian decided not to resort to the most extreme and brutal measures taken by his predecessors. Instead, the wicked deceiver laid plans to defile the Christians. He knew that Christians fast especially strictly during the first week of Great Lent, purifying their souls and drawing closer to God. Therefore, he ordered the Prefect of Constantinople to replace all provisions sold in the markets with bread, other victuals, and wine polluted by the blood of oblations offered to idols. Thus the faithful would be defiled precisely at the time when they were making the most strenuous efforts to purify themselves.
The Eparch quickly carried out the command of the impious, wicked Emperor, but the all-seeing eye of God was looking down. The Lord protected His servants from harm, sending the holy great-martyr Theodore Tyron to warn the city’s Bishop of the tyrant’s perfidy. Saint Theodore appeared not in a dream, but openly to the hierarch and said, “Quickly gather Christ’s rational sheep and tell them not to purchase food or drink in the markets. Everything sold there has been defiled, by command of the godless ruler.”
“And what are the poor and those whose pantries are empty to do?” asked the Bishop. “They have no choice but to buy.”
The saint replied, “Give them koliva.”
What is koliva? Asked the Bishop.
“Koliva is boiled wheat sweetened with honey,” explained the great Theodore. “We eat it in Euchaita.”
“Who are you, and why are you so concerned for Christ’s flock?” the hierarch inquired.
I am Christ’s martyr Theodore, and have been sent by the Lord to help in your hour of need,” declared the saint, who then vanished. The Patriarch straightway gathered the Christians and related what he had seen and heard. His servants made koliva, and Christ’s flock was preserved unharmed by the persecutor’s treachery.
The iniquitous Emperor was utterly humiliated and again permitted ordinary food to be sold in the markets. On the first Saturday of Lent, Christ’s followers held a celebration in honor of the holy great-martyr Theodore, at which they gave thanks to God, praised His servant, and ate koliva. To the present, the Orthodox commemorate on the first Saturday of the Great Fast the marvelous appearance of Saint Theodore and bless koliva, remembering God’s care for Christians and mercy to them, and the assistance provided by the Lord’s sufferer.
On this day, we commemorate Saint Mariamne, sister of the holy Apostle Philip. She is mentioned in the Passion of her brother, under November 14.
On this day, we also commemorate the finding of the relics of the holy martyr Menas Kallikelados.