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The PriestMartyr Theodotos Commemorated on March 2 The PriestMartyr
Theodotos, a native of Galatia in Asia Minor, was bishop of the city of
Kyreneia in Cyprus. During a time of persecution against christians under the
impious emperor Licinius (307-324), Saint Theodotos openly preached Christ,
calling on the pagans to abandon idol-worship and turn to the True God. The
governor of Cyprus Sabinus gave orders to arrest and bring bishop Theodotos to
trial. Having found out about this order, the saint did not wait for the
soldiers sent after him, but instead immediately went to the governor with the
words: "I am here, whom thou seekest; I have shown myself, so as to preach
Christ my God". The governor gave orders for the saint to be beaten
without mercy, hung up upon a tree and be dealt with by sharp implements, and
then be taken to prison. After five days Saint Theodotos was again brought to
the governor, who presumed that the bishop would prefer after his tortures to
renounce Christ, rather than endure new sufferings. But Saint Theodotos did not
cease to preach about Christ. At first they put the saint on an iron grate,
under which they set a bon-fire, and then hammered nails into his feet and let
him go. Many witnessed the sufferings of the martyr: astonished at the
endurance of the saint and his Divinely-inspired speaking, they came to believe
in Christ. Learning of this, Sabinus gave orders to stop the torture and lock
up the saint in prison. © 1996-2001 by translator Fr. S. Janos. |
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