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February 17
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| Icon of Saint Theodore the
Tyron provided by Theologic and used with permission. |
life of the saint
This holy, glorious Martyr of Christ came from Amasia in Pontus
and was a Roman legionary at the time of Maximian’s great
persecution (c. 303). He had been a Christian since childhood but
kept his faith secret, not out of cowardice but because he had not
yet received a sign from God to present himself for martyrdom. While
his cohort was stationed near the town of Euchaïta (Helenopontus),
he learned that the people of the district lived in terror of a
dreadful dragon, which lurked in the surrounding forest. He realized
that here was the quest in which God would show him whether the
time had come to offer himself for martyrdom. Going deep into the
woods, he came upon an abandoned village whose only remaining occupant,
a Christian princess named Eusebia, told him where the monster had
its lair. He set off to find it, arming himself with the sign of
the Cross, and when he confronted the roaring, fire-spitting beast,
he thrust his spear through its head and killed it.
Convinced that now, by God’s grace, he would be able to vanquish
the spiritual dragon, the Devil, just as he had felled the visible
fiend, Saint Theodore returned to the camp, ready to confess his
faith. When the commander of his cohort ordered a sacrifice to the
gods of the Empire, Theodore remained in his tent. “I am a
Christian,” he told the squad who came to look for him. “I
adore only Christ. He is the King whom I serve, and to Him only
am I willing to offer sacrifice!” After plying him with crafty
questions, they left him in order to interrogate other Christian
soldiers. Inflamed with divine zeal, Theodore encouraged his fellow
Christians to show themselves worthy of Christ, who had chosen them
to be soldiers in His army on high.
That night he went to the pagan temple and reduced the altar of
Rhea, the mother of the gods, to ashes. He was caught in the act
by a verger, and brought unresisting to the governor Publius. There
was an uproar in Euchaïta when the deed was known; but Theodore
replied calmly to the governor’s questions, showing the absurdity
of regarding as a deity a lifeless piece of wood which had been
reduced to ashes in a few moments. Threatened with dire torments,
the Saint responded, “Your threats do not frighten me because,
amid torments, the power of Christ will be joy and gladness to me.”
Grinding his teeth in rage, the governor had him thrown into a gloomy
dungeon.
That night, Christ appeared to His valiant servant and promised
that His grace would be at once his food and drink, his joy and
shield. Thus comforted, Theodore spent his time chanting hymns with
the Angels, so that even though his cell was bolted and barred,
the jailers thought that other Christians must have joined him there.
When offered bread and water, Theodore refused it, saying that
Christ had promised him food from heaven. On coming before Publius
for the second time, he was offered the post of high priest of the
idols, at which he laughed, and assured the governor that he was
ready to be cut in pieces for the love of Christ. He was then hung
by his heels while his body was lacerated with iron claws. But faced
with the Saint’s indomitable resolution, the tormentors labored
in vain, and the governor, fearing lest this example encourage other
Christians, decided to be done with him; and he condemned him to
be burned to death.
When they reached the stake, the Martyr took of his clothing and
sent up a fervent prayer that God would strengthen the other confessors.
He walked freely into the flames, which surrounded him but left
him untouched as though wanting to do him obeisance. In the midst
of this triumphal circlet, Saint Theodore gave back his soul to
God with thanksgiving. The pious Eusebia ransomed his body, which
she took to Euchaïta. A church was built there in honor of
the Martyr, who obtained healing of soul and body for the many pilgrims
who came to seek his intercession.
In 361, Julian the Apostate was doing his utmost to restore pagan
customs. Knowing that the Christians were accustomed to sanctify
the first week of Lent by fasting and prayer, the wily tyrant told
the Prefect of Constantinople to have all of the food set out for
sale in the markets sprinkled with the blood of animals sacrificed
to the gods, so that no one in the city would escape the contagion
of idolatry. However, the Lord did not abandon His chosen people,
but sent His servant Theodore to outwit the tyrant. Appearing in
a vision to Patriarch Eudoxius (360-364), the holy Martyr informed
him of what was happening and told him to instruct the Christians
not to buy food from the markets but instead to eat kolyva made
from grains of boiled wheat. Thus, thanks to the intervention of
the holy Martyr Theodore, the Christian people were preserved from
the stain of idolatry. The Church has commemorated this miracle
ever since on the first Saturday of Great Lent, in order to remind
the faithful that fasting and temperance have the power to cleanse
all the stains of sin.
Saint Theodore the Tryon wrought many other miracles for those
who had recourse to him with faith, and who persevered in prayer
in his church. One day, shining in glory on his white horse, he
appeared to a poor widow and restored her only son who had been
captured by Saracens. He often brought the tempest-tossed to safety,
thieves to light and runaways back to their masters. In all his
miracles, this Roman legionary showed that he had become the heavenly
protector of the Christian people.
Adapted
from The Synaxarion: The Lives of the Saints of the Orthodox Church,
Vol. 3, compiled by Hieromonk Makarios of Simonos Petra and translated
from the French by Christopher Hookway (Chalkidike, Greece: Holy
Convent of the Annunciation of Our Lady, 2001) pp. 536-539.
Orthodox Christian Celebration of the Feast of Saint Theodore The
Tyron
The feast and commemoration of Saint Theodore the Tyron is celebrated
with the Divine Liturgy of Saint John Chrysostom which is conducted
on the morning of the feast and preceded by a Matins (Orthros) service.
A Great Vespers may be conducted on the evening before the day of
the Feast. The commemoration of the appearance of Saint Theodore
and the miracle of the kolyva is celebrated on the first Saturday
of Great Lent each year with a Divine Liturgy and a Memorial Service.
This day is the last of three Saturday of Souls observed each year
at the beginning of the Lenten season. The faithful bring kolyva
and lists of names of friends and family members who have reposed
in the faith. The names are read by the priest during the Memorial
Service.
Hymns of the Feast
Apolytikion: Second Tone
Great are the achievements of faith! In the fountain of flame,
as by the water of rest, the holy Martyr Theodore rejoiced; for
having been made a whole-burnt offering in the fire, he was offered
as sweet bread unto the Trinity. By his prayers, O Christ God, save
our souls.
Kontakion: Plagal Fourth Tone
Having received the Faith of Christ in thy heart as a breastplate,
thou didst trample upon the enemy hosts, O much-suffering champion;
and thou hast been crowned eternally with a heavenly crown, since
thou art invincible.
Apolytikion
and Kontakion courtesy of Holy Transfiguration Monastery, Brookline,
MA.
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