Life of Saint Theodore
Theodore was born in the third century in the city of Amasya (Türkiye). Nothing is known about his childhood and adolescence. Theodore served in the emperor's army. In those days, persecution of Christians began. It became known that Theodore believed in Christ.
He was brought to the steward and forced to sacrifice to idols. The saint refused. He was given some time to think. He prayed these days that God would strengthen him for martyrdom.
Theodore was slandered for burning a pagan temple. He was brought to trial before the mayor, where he declared himself a Christian. He was severely beaten and then thrown into prison. There he starved for many days. Christ appeared to him and strengthened him. Then Theodore was again brought to trial, but he repeated his confession of religion.
The torment of a saint
Then the torment began - his body was planed with iron teeth, blood flowed in streams, but the saint loudly confessed Christ. Then they threw him into the oven and burned him alive. The troparion to Saint Theodore Tyrone conveys the whole essence of his torment: “in the flame, as if on the water of repose, Saint Theodore rejoiced... as if sweet bread had been brought to the Lord.” Those. it was baked in the oven as bread for the Lord.
This happened in 305. The saint's body was buried in Euchaites. Later, his relics were transferred to Constantinople and placed in a temple consecrated in his honor. The head of the martyr is kept in the Italian city of Gaeta.
Life
At the beginning of the 4th century, the struggle between the pagans and the preachers of the Gospel continued, and persecution became more and more severe. It was during this difficult time, according to Scripture, that Theodore Tyrone lived. His life begins with a description of his service in the army (306), which took place in the city of Amasia (northeastern part of Asia Minor). It is also known that he was born into a noble family. His father held a high position, so their family was respected.
By order of the Roman Emperor Galerius, a campaign was carried out in Amasia to convert Christians to the pagan faith. They were forced to make sacrifices to stone idols. Those who resisted were imprisoned, subjected to cruel torture, and killed.
When this news reached the legion in which Theodore Tiron served, the young man openly protested to his commander Vrink. In response, he was given several days to think. Theodore led them in prayer and did not deviate from the faith. Going out into the street, he noticed a storm of activity. A convoy with a line of captured Christians passed by him; they were being led to prison. It was hard for him to look at this, but he firmly believed in Jesus Christ and hoped for the confirmation of the true faith. On the main square of the city, Theodore saw a pagan temple. The crafty priest invited the “dark” people to worship idols and make sacrifices to them in order to gain all the desired benefits. That same night, Theodore Tyrone set fire to this temple. The next morning, all that was left of it was a pile of logs and broken statues of pagan idols. Everyone was tormented by the question, why didn’t the ancestral gods protect themselves?
Posthumous apparitions of the saint
Fifty years after his death, a certain event occurred. Emperor Julian the Apostate decided to laugh at Christians. He ordered to secretly sprinkle blood sacrificed to idols in the markets so that they would be defiled.
Then Saint Theodore appeared in a dream to Bishop Eudoxius and informed him of the emperor’s plan. He ordered all Christians to cook their own food so as not to buy anything at the market. They began to cook the wheat, adding honey to it. This food has since been called “kolivo” or “kutya”, as well as “sochivo” .
In honor of this event, on Friday of the first week of Great Lent, it is customary to serve a prayer service with the canon to St. Theodore Tyrone, which was written by the Monk John of Damascus, at the end of the Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts. After the prayer service, the kutia is blessed and distributed to the believers. This holiday existed back in the fourth century, as Patriarch Nektarios spoke about.
Much later there was another appearance of the saint. According to the testimony of many eyewitnesses, he carried the miraculous icon of the Theodore Mother of God through the streets of Kostroma, after which it began to bear his name. Previously, it was kept in Gorodets, Nizhny Novgorod district, but after the miraculous transfer of it by Saint Theodore, the icon was revealed near Kostroma in the forest on a tree. This was explained by the fact that the inhabitants of Gorodets somehow angered the Most Pure One, and She wanted to see Her icon in Kostroma.
Tests
The pagans knew who set fire to their temple, and they handed Theodore over to the commander of the city. He was captured and imprisoned. The mayor ordered the prisoner to be starved to death. But on the very first night Jesus Christ appeared to him, who strengthened him in his faith. After several days of imprisonment, the guards, hoping to see the exhausted and exhausted Theodore Tiron, were surprised at how cheerful and inspired he was.
Later he was subjected to many tortures and tortures, but thanks to his indestructible fortitude and prayer, he endured all the suffering and remained alive. Seeing this, the Amasean mayor ordered him to be burned at the stake. But this time too, the Great Martyr Theodore Tiron sang prayers of thanksgiving to Christ. He stood firmly and adamantly for the holy faith. And in the end he still gave up the ghost. However, ancient evidence suggests that his body was not touched by fire, which, of course, was a miracle for many and made them believe in the true Lord.
Interesting Facts
- Tyrone is the nickname of Theodore. From Latin it literally translates to “recruit” and is given to the saint in honor of his military service. Since all the trials that befell the great martyr occurred at a time when he was a recruit in the legion.
- First, the remains of the great martyr (according to legend, untouched by fire) were buried by a certain Christian Eusevia in Euchaites (Turkish territory, not far from Amasia). The relics were then transported to Constantinople (modern Istanbul). Its head is currently located in Italy, the city of Gaeta.
- There is a legend about a miracle that Saint Theodore Tyrone performed after his martyrdom. The pagan Roman emperor Julian the Apostate, who reigned in 361-363, decided to insult Christians, so he ordered the mayor of Constantinople, during Lent, to sprinkle food sold in the city's markets with blood sacrificed to idols. But on the night before the implementation of the plan, Theodore Tiron came to Archbishop Eudoxius in a dream and warned about the imperial treachery. Then the archbishop commanded Christians to eat only kutya on these days. That is why on the first Saturday of Great Lent they hold a thanksgiving celebration in honor of the saint, treat themselves to kutya and read prayers of praise.
- In Ancient Rus', the first week of Lent was called Fedorov's week. This is also an echo of the memory of the miracle of Theodore Tiron.
Icon
In iconography, Theodore Tyrone is depicted in the military uniform of that time with a spear in his hand. Even after death, he continues to help believers: strengthens their spirit, maintains peace and mutual understanding in the family, and keeps them from temptations and evil intentions.
There is an apocrypha about the exploits of Saint Tyrone, where he appears as a hero-snake fighter. This legend is a fragment, a description of the martyrdom that Theodore Tyrone endured. His life is only slightly touched upon at the beginning of the story. The Apocrypha served as the source for the creation of the icon “The Miracle of Theodore Tyrone on the Serpent” by Nicephorus Savin (early 17th century). Its composition, like a mosaic, is made up of several plot points. In the center of the icon is the figure of a woman in the tenacious embrace of a winged serpent. On the right is the mother of the great martyr in a well and surrounded by asps, and on the left the king and queen watch as Theodore fights the many-headed serpent. Just below, the author cites the scene of the liberation of the martyr’s mother from the well and the descent of an angel with a crown for the hero.
Day Angel
Saint Theodore is remembered on February 17 (18) according to the old style, and according to the new style - March 1 in a leap year, March 2 in a non-leap year. Also on the first Saturday of Great Lent, a thanksgiving celebration to the holy great martyr takes place in Orthodox churches. These days, all Fedors celebrate the day of the angel; those who wish can order a prayer canon. There are also prayers and troparia that help believers turn to the saint for help.
Epic image of a saint
For more details, see The Legend of the Exploits of Fyodor Tirinin
“The Tale of the Exploits of Fyodor Tirinin” is an apocrypha about Theodore Tiron, related to the theme of the main myth: the hero appears here as a snake fighter. The “Tale” is a type of “martyrdom”, and not a full-fledged biographical life: the feat of Saint Theodore is only externally connected with his life, which begins with it. Alexander Veselovsky suggests a possible connection between the spiritual verse and the epic “Dobrynya and the Serpent”[2].
Eastern and South Slavic traditions represent Theodore Tyrone, like Yegoriy the Brave, as a horseman and protector of livestock[3].
The relics are located in the monastery in Serbia Novo Hopovo
- His grave in Venice
- Theodore Tyrone
Temple
The Orthodox faith does not forget and honors the memory of the great martyrdom, creating holy images and sacred places. So, in January 2013 in Moscow (in Khoroshevo-Mnevniki) the temple of Theodore Tiron was consecrated. This is a small wooden church, including a quadrangle under a gable roof with a dome, a vestibule and an altar. Morning and evening services are held there every day, and liturgy is read on Saturday and Sunday. Citizens and religious guests of the capital can visit the temple at a time convenient for themselves.
Strange incident at the market
In the pre-dawn twilight, a fruit merchant was laying out his goods on the counter. He was helped by his son, a curly-haired boy of about ten years old.
- Dad, where is the best place to put these apples?
- These are pink. Place them next to bright red ones so that the shade of the color can be seen better.
— To make it clear that these are different varieties of apples?
- Yes, well done. And place the melons near the watermelons so that they do not block the small fruits.
- Okay, dad, I’ll do it now.
Suddenly horsemen appeared in the shopping arcades. It was the city guard. They drove slowly from counter to counter. Behind them, an old mule was carrying a huge barrel, the kind that water carriers usually use to carry drinking water through the streets on hot days. But what is a water carrier doing at the market so early, and even accompanied by armed guards? And he did very strange things. When the barrel stopped near the next counter, the water carrier, groaning, climbed onto the barrel, scooped up water with a ladle on a long handle and sprayed it so that it sprinkled all the goods lying on the counters nearby. Then the mule carried the barrel further, and everything was repeated again. The turn came to the fruit row. The water carrier began to splash water on ripe figs, dark red cherries, and purple plums. The boy hid in fear behind the counter. And the father asked the water carrier:
- Dear, tell me, why are you dousing our goods with your water?
But instead of the water carrier, one of the guards answered:
- This is the mayor's order. All products in the market and retail shops will now be sprinkled every day.
- For what? - the father was surprised. - What's the point of this?
“You ask too many questions, merchant,” the guard frowned. “See that you don’t have to answer for your curiosity.” Isn’t it enough for you that the mayor himself ordered this?
“No, my lord,” the father humbly lowered his eyes. - I got it. Here is my product, let the water truck do its job.
“That’s right...” the guard yawned lazily. “Do you think we ourselves like to tinker with your apples this early?” But an order is an order. It needs to be carried out, and not asked “what” and “why”.
“Yes, my lord,” the father bowed his head. - The order must be carried out.
His whole appearance depicted complete submission. But when the guards and the water carrier moved on, the father immediately changed. His movements became fast and precise, and his gaze became sharp. He called the boy to him, looked into his eyes and said:
“Do you remember where our Bishop Eudoxius lives, son?”
- Yes, dad, I remember. He lives on a street that leads to the sea.
- Hurry up, run there, wake him up and tell him everything you just saw here in the market.
- Okay, dad. What was it?
- I don't know. But I feel like something bad is happening. The bishop is a wise man, let him decide what to do with all this.
- Yes, dad. I'll do as you say.
The boy turned around and ran away as fast as he could.
Great Martyr Theodore Tiron
Kontakion 1
To the chosen champion and great martyr Theodore Tyrone, confessor of the Holy Trinity, defender of the faith of Christ and the destroyer of paganism, we sing with gratitude the faithful in the joy of joy, calling to him with all our souls: Rejoice, great martyr Theodore Tyrone.
Ikos 1
Angels from heaven, come with us to the young warrior, Theodore Tyrone, let us sing with joy, for he passionately loved Christ and confessed Him as Lord and God-man. For this reason, let us call to him this way: Rejoice, for by you God has been glorified, Rejoice, for by you Satan has been put to shame, Rejoice, fiery herald of the Holy Trinity, Rejoice, great champion of soulless idols, Rejoice, preacher of the two natures in Christ, Rejoice, interpreter of their non-confusion. Rejoice, proclaiming Mary the Virgin, Rejoice, calling her the Theotokos (confessing). Rejoice, having drunk the cup of Christ, Rejoice, correction of the right faith. Rejoice, for by you many have turned to Christ. Rejoice, conqueror, crowned by Christ. Rejoice, great martyr Theodore Tirone.
Kontakion 2
Looking at the courage of your soul, the Lord shows you a God-wise sign to hasten to martyrdom: but you, having rejected all earthly things, cried out to God: Alleluia.
Ikos 2
In the place where the monster was, you were born Theodora, and with your feat you defeated him; Eusebius’s wife rejoiced when she saw his death, and in her songs she called out to you like this: Rejoice, O coming martyr of my Christ, Rejoice, glory of my homeland, Rejoice, conqueror of the destructive dragon, Rejoice, undefeated in courage, Rejoice, chosen one of Christ in the world, Rejoice, ascetic for the sake of His glory. Rejoice, confirmation of the Orthodox faith. Rejoice, instruction of the young in piety. Rejoice, great protection of faith, Rejoice, great victory over atheism, Rejoice, vessel of God's grace, Rejoice, treasury of read virtues. Rejoice, Great Martyr Theodore Tirone.
Kontakion 3
Come Theodora, cried the hater of Christ Vrinka, and make sacrifices to the idol, just as we do; If you don’t submit, I’ll give you over to torment; But you, O most glorious one, have given praise to God: Alleluia.
Ikos 3
You, great martyr, placed the divine flame on the idol altar and you scorched the idols, wonderfully moved by the flame of God’s love towards feat, therefore we cry to you like this: Rejoice, young warrior of the King of kings, Rejoice, having conquered Vrinka with your word. Rejoice, you who glorified Christ by your feat, Rejoice , who destroyed idols with fire. Rejoice, conqueror of the power of flame. Rejoice, more glorious than the martyrs, the beauty, Rejoice, the great martyr, joy of the angels. Rejoice, sweetest defender of the church. Rejoice, vigilant protector of the Orthodox. Rejoice, Theodora, a gift sent to us from God. Rejoice, great martyr Theodora Tirone.
Kontakion 4
You have put to shame the diabolical community of Publius and Vrinka with your courage, great martyr, and confessing Christ as the Son of God, you have condemned paganism, crying out to God: Alleluia.
Ikos 4
The angels hastened to Christ the Savior, who visited you in prison. Having filled you with heavenly joy, the Lord commanded you: Rejoice and do not fear, great martyr, for with me you will conquer and be worthy of a crown. For this reason, hear from us: Rejoice, friend of Christ God, Rejoice, courageous confessor. Rejoice, sweet bread of Christ. Rejoice, admonition of the young, Rejoice, correction of sinners. Rejoice, for Christ visited you in the bonds of existence, Rejoice, for you have seen the heavenly light in prison. Rejoice, bright manifestation of reason. Rejoice, wise denunciation of madness. Rejoice, for by looking at your image we are confirmed in our faith, Rejoice, for by your intercession Orthodoxy is protected, Rejoice, Great Martyr Theodore Tirone.
Kontakion 5
Christ wanted to teach you, Theodora, the knowledge of grace, the commandment not to accept defiled food, for the grace of God will richly nourish you. You sang to God: Alleluia.
Ikos 5
Seeing you devoted to torment, Theodora Tirone, the wicked Publius was filled with rage and was surprised at your long-suffering; The children, glorifying God, cried out in joy: Rejoice, martyr of Christ God, Rejoice, martyr of His passion, Rejoice, you who accepted prison for Him, Rejoice, you who were bound in chains for the Lord’s sake, Rejoice, for you brought sweet bread to the Trinity. Rejoice, you who did not accept it in courage desecrated food. Rejoice, you who suffered the lash of the wicked Publius for the sake of God. Rejoice, praise of the Orthodox. Rejoice, who supplies us with the bread of life from famine, Rejoice, who earnestly help those who call upon you. Rejoice, dawn, shining in the night of sin for those who wander, Rejoice, for by your faith the pagans are crushed gods. Rejoice, Great Martyr Theodore Tirone.
Kontakion 6
Crush with flame the mocker of idols, the tyrant cried to his soldiers, they cast you into the fiery furnace, glorious one, so that you may have a blessed death singing: Alleluia.
Ikos 6
The Holy Spirit enlighten your heart, great martyr, and give you a testimony of the feat of Kleonikos. He, strengthened in your confession, cried out thus: Rejoice, extinguisher of fire, Rejoice, companion of the great martyrs, Rejoice, accomplice of the holy Angels. Rejoice, as Christ was glorified by your exploits. Rejoice, who turned the power of the flame into dew. Rejoice, towering above the common death. Rejoice, heir to the Kingdom of Christ. Rejoice, you who preserved your body in virginity. Rejoice, you who enlightened your soul through deeds. Rejoice, ardent zealot of Orthodoxy. Rejoice, protector of him from heretical intrigues. Rejoice, great martyr Theodore Tirone.
Kontakion 7
Thou hast accepted torment and reposed unto Christ, thou wisest of God; by your intercession and prayer at the Throne of the Most High you kindle the flame of love for God among those who believe and sing: Alleluia.
Ikos 7
Jealous of the myrrh-bearing feat, the humble Eusevia became the myrrh-bearer. Tiy's concern for peace, she bought the myrrh, and she, having bought your honorable remains, passionately cried out: Rejoice, martyr of truth, Rejoice, glory of the Euchaites, Rejoice, glory of our Church. Rejoice, joy of your parents. Rejoice, dwelling in the heavenly realms, Rejoice, for you now dwell in the kingdom of heaven. Rejoice, for I will wisely build a temple for you, Rejoice, for I will place your remains in it. Rejoice, for the sanctification of my house, Rejoice, joy for my soul. Rejoice, a star among the martyrs of Christ, Rejoice, our glorification and love. Rejoice, Great Martyr Theodore Tirone.
Kontakion 8
Jesus the Almighty, who strengthened everything, loved the beauty of your soul, and you kept it spotless. Most glorious, sanctified by the flow of your blood, crying out to God: Alleluia.
Ikos 8
You offered your whole heart and mind and body to the Lord as a sacrifice. He glorified you in heaven and on earth, Theodora, giving you the power of miracles. For this reason, hear from us: Rejoice, you who have been enriched by the pleasure of God, Rejoice, you who have filled the earth with miracles, Rejoice, you who have filled the earth with miracles, Rejoice, you who have glorified the greatest protector. Rejoice, you who have walked the glorious path of life. Rejoice, you who have conquered the evil one with Christ. , Rejoice, unfading crown of righteousness, Rejoice, filled with ineffable glory. Rejoice, our vigilant representative, Rejoice, now praising God with the angels. Rejoice, interlocutor of the faces of the martyrs. Rejoice, great martyr Theodore Tirone.
Kontakion 9
Possessed by the evil of the devil, the apostate God-fighter Julian made an unholy decision: to incite believers into sin by eating defiled food, singing the song of God: Alleluia.
Ikos 9
Having recognized the cunning of the apostate, by your intercession, Great Martyr Theodora, you delivered Christ’s children from temptation. Contemptuous of the devil's temptation, hear from us: Rejoice, deliverance of the Orthodox, Rejoice, Pillar of Christ's Church, Rejoice, conqueror of the enemies of Christ, Rejoice, accuser of the godless apostate. Rejoice, repellent of sinful desires, Rejoice, shame of the wicked king. Rejoice, creator of glorious miracles, Rejoice , the denouncer of the king’s wickedness. Rejoice, full of divine gifts. Rejoice, bright vessel of the Holy Spirit. Rejoice, thou who glorified Christ in the world, Rejoice, glorified by Him in heaven. Rejoice, great martyr Theodore Tirone.
Kontakion 10
Having desired, by His great mercy, to keep His children pure from defilement, the Savior, Great Martyr Theodora, sent you to the saint of the King of the City to announce His will to him, having already known, he sang with you: Alleluia.
Ikos 10
Command the faithful, oh saint, not to touch food in the marketplace, as the wicked apostate has defiled it with his command. For this reason we proclaim to you: Rejoice, executor of the unwritten law, Rejoice, messenger of the divine will. Rejoice, fortification of the holy city, Rejoice, for you declared the divine will to him. Rejoice, for you were the messenger of Christ God. Rejoice, for you conquered Julian’s madness. Rejoice, for you rejected you are defiled food, Rejoice, for you have observed the fast of the faithful. Rejoice, divine joy of the martyrs, Rejoice, gift given to us by God. Rejoice, servant of the Most High. Rejoice, great martyr Theodore Tirone.
Kontakion 11
The saint praised the Most High, when he knew the machinations of the crafty apostate, asking you, Theodore: who are you and how will you feed the faithful and the poor, let us sing to God: Alleluia.
Ikos 11
She also answered the saint: O Shepherd, having prepared a quantity of food, give it to the faithful people as food; The name is the martyr of Christ Theodore, a helper sent to you from God. For this reason we cry out: Rejoice, our great guardian, Rejoice, patron of Orthodoxy. Rejoice, destroyer of wickedness, Rejoice, support and affirmation of Christianity. Rejoice, helper sent from God to us, Rejoice, teaching us about undefiled food. Rejoice, teaching us to consume Rejoice, for the appearance of your miracle is ever glorified, Rejoice, vigilant messenger of Christ, Rejoice, cohabitant of the martyrs of Christ. Rejoice, for by them Christ is glorified, Rejoice, for by them the faithful are exalted. Rejoice, great martyr Theodore Tirone.
Kontakion 12
Having the Lord desire to show the grace that was bestowed upon you, to show you as a deliverer of captives, a healer of the weak, a savior of those floating, a teacher of sinners, an accuser of those who steal, let us sing to God: Alleluia.
Ikos 12
Singing your exploits and miracles, Great Martyr Theodore, we sing to you in humility, for the Lord, who accepted your sufferings, has taken possession of your soul, instructing us to cry out to you like this: Rejoice, Theodore, who kept your soul immaculately, Rejoice, who sanctified it with your sufferings, Rejoice, captives to the deliverer and representative. Rejoice, the wounded physician of the body and the healer of the sick. Rejoice, the savior in trouble on the sea of those who exist. Rejoice, sweet-sounding pipe. Rejoice, performer of adolescent prayers, Rejoice, faithful wealth of the poor. Rejoice, dwelling in the heavenly abodes, Rejoice, the weak strengthening. Rejoice, consolation of the elders. Rejoice, chanting the thrice-holy hymn with the angels. Rejoice, great martyr Theodore Tirone.
Kontakion 13
Oh, Great Martyr Theodore Tirone, God-given gift to those who praise you with love. Graciously accept this offering, deliver us from all sorrow and sorrow through your intercession and remove the future torments that cry to God for you: Alleluia.
Read this kontakion three times, then ikos 1, kontakion 1.
Prayer to the Holy Great Martyr Theodore Tiron
O Most Glorious, Great Martyr Theodore Tiron. Hear the prayer of us faithful, who magnify you and in our humility cry out to you with all our souls. From your youth, having shown an ardent faith in Christ the Lord and laid down your life for her sake, give us who pray to you spiritual strength to maintain the purity of the right faith all our days. Seal by martyrdom the confession of faith in the furnace of fire, be an image for us in zeal for preaching the Truth of Christ. Protecting the faithful from the sin of paganism and apostasy, keep us clean from heretical intrigues and all devilish instigations. O Most Blessed Great Martyr Theodora, by your intercession at the Throne of the Most High, beg the Lord God to give us grace-filled strength to direct the path of our lives according to the Word of God for the salvation of our souls. Because through your prayers we have received grace and mercy, let us glorify all the good Source and Gift-Giver God, the One, in the Trinity of Saints Slavimago, the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.
