THE GREAT MARTYR
AND COMMANDER THEODORE STRATELATES
February 8th
Του
Αγίου ενδόξου Μεγαλομάρτυρος Θεοδώρου του Στρατηλάτου
He came from the city of Euchaita in Asia Minor.
He was endowed with many talents, and was handsome in appearance. For his
charity God enlightened him with the knowledge of Christian truth. The bravery
of the saintly soldier was revealed after he, with the help of God, killed a
giant serpent living on a precipice in the outskirts of Euchaita. The serpent
had devoured many people and animals, terrorizing the countryside. St. Theodore
armed himself with a sword and vanquished it, glorifying the name of Christ
among the people.
For his bravery St. Theodore was appointed
military commander [stratelatos] in the city of Heraclea, where he combined his
military service with preaching the Gospel among the pagans subject to him. His
gift of persuasion, reinforced by his personal example of Christian life, turned
many from their false gods. Soon, nearly all of Heraclea had accepted
Christianity.
During this time the emperor Licinius (307-324)
began a fierce persecution against Christians. In an effort to stamp out the new
faith, he persecuted the enlightened adherents of Christianity, who were
perceived as a threat to paganism. Among these was St. Theodore. Licinius tried
to force St. Theodore to offer sacrifice to the pagan gods. The saint invited
Licinius to come to him with his idols so both of them could offer sacrifice
before the people.
Blinded by his hatred for Christianity, Licinius
trusted the words of the saint, but he was disappointed. St. Theodore smashed
the gold and silver statues into pieces, which he then distributed to the poor.
Thus he demonstrated the vain faith in soulless idols, and also displayed
Christian charity.
St. Theodore was arrested and subjected to fierce
and refined torture. He was dragged on the ground, beaten with iron rods, had
his body pierced with sharp spikes, was burned with fire, and his eyes were
plucked out. Finally, he was crucified. Varus, the servant of St. Theodore,
barely had the strength to write down the incredible torments of his master.
God, however, in His great mercy, willed that the
death of St. Theodore should be as fruitful for those near him as his life was.
An angel healed the saint's wounded body and took him down from the cross. In
the morning, the imperial soldiers found him alive and unharmed. Seeing with
their own eyes the infinite might of the Christian God, they were baptized not
far from the place of the unsuccessful execution.
Thus St. Theodore became "like a day of splendor"
for those pagans dwelling in the darkness of idolatary, and he enlightened their
souls "with the bright rays of his suffering." Unwilling to escape martyrdom for
Christ, St. Theodore voluntarily surrendered himself to Licinius, and
discouraged the Christians from rising up against the torturer, saying,
"Beloved, halt! My Lord Jesus Christ, hanging upon the Cross, restrained the
angels and did not permit them to take revenge on the race of man."
Going to execution, the holy martyr opened up the
prison doors with just a word and freed the prisoners from their bonds. People
who touched his robe were healed instantly from sicknesses, and freed from
demonic possession. By order of the emperor, St. Theodore was beheaded by the
sword. Before his death he told Varus, " Do not fail to record the day of my
death, and bury my body in Euchaita." He also asked to be remembered each year
on this date. Then he bent his neck beneath the sword, and received the crown of
martyrdom which he had sought. This occurred on February 8, 319, on a Saturday,
at the third hour of the day.
St. Theodore is regarded as the patron saint of
soldiers. He is also commemorated on June 8.
Source:
OCA
