The Holy Martyr Theodotos and the Holy Seven Virgins – Tecusa, Thaina, Claudia, Matrona, Julia, Alexandra and Euphrasia
Commemorated on May 18
The Holy Martyr
Theodotos and the Holy Seven Virgins – Tecusa, Thaina, Claudia, Matrona,
Julia, Alexandra and Euphrasia, lived during the 2nd half of the III
Century in the city of Ancyra, Galatia district, and died as martyrs for Christ
at the beginning of the IV Century. Saint Theodotos was "an
inn-keeper", had his own inn and was married. Then already he had attained
to high spiritual accomplishment: he maintained prudence and purity, cultivated
temperance in himself, subjugated the flesh to the spirit, and became practised
in fasting and prayer. By his conversations he brought Jews and pagans to the
Christian faith, and sinners – to repentance and improvement. Saint Theodotos
received the gift of healing from the Lord and he treated the sick by placing
his hands on them.
During the time of
the persecution under the emperor Diocletian (284-305), there was appointed as
governor in the city of Ancyra – Theoteknes, known for his cruelty. Many
Christians fled from the city, having forsaken their homes and property.
Theoteknes made a proclamation to all Christians that they were under
obligation to offer sacrifice to idols, and in the event of refusal they were
to be given over to torture and death. Pagans delivered Christians over to
torture, and then divided up their property.
A famine befell the
country. During these grim days, Saint Theodotos gave shelter in his inn to
Christians left homeless. he fed them, hid away those being pursued, and from
his supplies gave to devastated churches everything necessary for making the
Divine Liturgy. He fearlessly went into the prisons, rendering help to the
innocently condemned – encouraging them to be faithful to Christ the Saviour
to the very end. Theodotos did not fear to bury the remains of holy martyrs,
either carrying them off secretly or ransoming them from the soldiers for
money. When the Christian churches at Ancyra were destroyed and closed, Divine
Liturgy began to be celebrated in his inn. Perceiving that the deed of
martyrdom awaited him too, Saint Theodotos in conversation with the priest
Phrontonos predicted, that in a short while they would bring to him the relics
of martyrs, at a place chosen by both of them. In surety of his words, Saint
Theodotos gave his ring to the priest.
During this while
seven holy virgins had accepted death for Christ, of whom the eldest – Saint
Tecusa – was an aunt of Saint Theodotos. The holy virgins – Tecusa, Thaina,
Claudia, Matrona, Julia, Alexandra and Euphrasia – from their youth had
dedicated themselves to God, and lived in constant prayer, fasting, temperance
and good deeds. All of them had attained to an elderly age. Brought to trial as
Christians, the holy virgins in front of Theoteknes bravely confessed their
faith in Christ and were given over to torture, but remained steadfast. The
governor thereupon gave them over to shameless youths for desecration. The holy
virgins prayed intensely, asking help from God. Saint Tecusa fell down at the
feet of a youth, and taking back her head-veil she showed him her greyed hair.
The youths became startled, started weeping and ran off. The governor then
ordered, that the saints take part in "the ablution of the idols",
which was done by pagan priests, but again the holy virgins refused. For this
they were sentenced to death. An heavy stone was tied to the legs of each, and all
seven of the holy virgins was drowned in a lake. On the following night Saint
Tecusa appeared in a dream to Saint Theodotos, asking him to take up her body
and give it Christian burial. Saint Theodotos, taking with him his friend
Polychronios and several other Christians, set off to the lake. It was dark,
and a burning torch led the way. Amidst them in front of the guard, posted by
the pagans at the shore of the lake, appeared the holy martyr Sosander. The
frightened guard ran off in terror. The wind drove the water towards the other
side of the lake. The Christians took up the bodies of the holy martyresses and
carried them to church, from whence they were given over to burial. Learning
about the theft of the bodies of the holy martyresses, the governor went into a
rage and gave orders to strike at all Christians and give them over to torture.
Polychronios also was seized. Not able to endure the torture, he informed on
Saint Theodotos, as the perpetrator of the theft of the bodies. Saint Theodotos
began to prepare to die for Christ; having come up together with all the
Christians zealous in prayer, he made bequest of his body to the priest
Phrontonos, to whom earlier he had given his ring. The saint came before the
judge. They showed him various instruments of torture and instead of them they
promised him honours and riches, if he recanted from Christ. Saint Theodotos
glorified the Lord Jesus Christ, and confessed his faith in Him. In anger the
pagans gave the saint over to constant torture, but the power of God sustained
the holy martyr. He remained alive and was cast into prison. On the following
morning the governor again gave orders to torture the saint, but he soon
perceived, that it was impossible to break his courage. He then gave orders to
behead the martyr. The execution was done, but sensing that a storm was
approaching, the soldiers set fire to the body of the martyr. And soldiers,
sitting in a tent, remained to guard the body. At this point the priest
Phrontonos appeared from a nearby way, leading a donkey with a load of wine
from his vineyard. The donkey suddenly fell down near the place where lay the
body of Saint Theodotos. The soldiers helped get the donkey back up and they
told Phrontonos that they were guarding the body of the executed Christian
Theodotos. The priest perceived, that the Lord had intentionally sent him
hither. He placed the holy remains on the donkey and took them to the place,
indicated by Saint Theodotos for his burial, and with honour he committed them
to the earth. Afterwards he built up a church on this spot. Saint Theodotos
accepted death for Christ on 7 June 303 or 304, and his memory is commemorated
on 18 May, on the day of death of the holy virgins.
The account of the
life and martyr's act of Saint Theodotos and the suffering of the holy virgins
was compiled by the contemporary and companion of Saint Theodotos, and an
eye-witness of his death – Nilos, living in the city of Ancyra during the
period of persecution of Christians under the emperor Diocletian.
© 1996-2001 by translator Fr. S. Janos.