The impious Emperor Licinius , having assumed the scepter after the impious Maximian and imitating him in everything, immediately launched a great persecution against those distinguished for their piety. He sent a decree concerning this impious decree to all cities and countries. During this time, many brave soldiers of Christ were killed: Licinius slew the forty martyrs of Sebaste , as well as renowned warriors and princes of his own court, and finally, he killed three hundred men from Macedonia.
When the impious Licinius saw that almost all Christians, disregarding his command, were giving themselves up to death for the holy faith, he then ordered that only the most famous and noble of them be sought out, that is, only those who were in his army or lived in the cities, and only these he commanded (ignoring the multitude of the common people) to be forced into idolatry; he hoped by fear to convince all those under his power to remain faithful to idolatry.
While they were searching everywhere with great diligence for the most famous Christians, Licinius, who was then in Nicomedia, learned that in Heraclea 1261 , near the Black Sea, there lived a certain holy man named Theodore Stratelates, that he was a Christian and was converting many to Christ.
Saint Theodore was a native of Euchaita , located near the city of Heraclea; he was a brave and courageous man, very handsome in appearance; in addition, he was distinguished for his wisdom and great eloquence, so that he was called "vrioritor," that is, a most skillful orator . By royal command, he was appointed stratelates, that is, commander, and the city of Heraclea was given to him for his bravery, which became known to all after he killed the dragon in Euchaita.
Not far from the city of Euchaita, to the north, there was a deserted field, and in it a large chasm, within which lived a huge serpent. When it emerged from this chasm, the earth there shook; and once out, it devoured everything it came across, both man and beast.
Hearing of this, the brave warrior of Christ, Saint Theodore, who was then still among the army, without telling anyone anything about his intention, went out alone against that fierce serpent.
He took with him only his usual weapons, but on his chest he wore a precious cross. He said to himself:
“I will go and deliver my fatherland by the power of Christ from this fierce serpent.
When he arrived at that field, he saw tall grass, dismounted from his horse, and lay down to rest. In that land lived a certain pious woman named Eusebia. She was an advanced woman; several years earlier, having requested the venerable body of Saint Theodore Tiron , who had suffered during the reign of Maximian and Maximinus, she had buried it with spices in her home in Euchaita and celebrated his memory every year. This woman, seeing this second Theodore, a soldier of Christ, called a stratelator, sleeping in that field, approached him with great fear, took him by the hand, and awakened him, saying:
“Get up, brother, and quickly leave this place: for you do not know that in this place many have suffered a cruel death; so, get up quickly, and go on your way.”
The honorable martyr of Christ Theodore, standing up, said to her:
- What fear and horror are you talking about, mother?
The servant of God Eusebia answered him:
“Child, a huge snake has taken up residence in this place, and that is why no one can come here: every day this snake, leaving its lair, finds someone, a man or an animal, and immediately kills and devours him.
The courageous warrior of Christ Theodore said to this:
- Go away and stand far away from this place, and you will see the power of my Christ.
The woman, having moved away from this place, fell to the ground, crying and saying:
- God of Christians, help him in this hour!
Then the holy martyr Theodore, making the sign of the cross, struck himself on the chest and, looking up to heaven, began to pray thus:
- Lord Jesus Christ, who shone forth from the Father's Being, who helped me in battles and gave me victory over my enemies, - You are still the same, Lord Christ our God: so, send me victory from Your holy heights, so that I may overcome this enemy - the serpent.
Then, talking to his horse as if he were talking to a man, he said:
“We know that God’s power and strength exist in everyone, both in people and in animals, so help me, with the help of Christ, so that I can overcome the enemy.
The horse, having heard his master's words, stopped, awaiting the appearance of the serpent. Then the martyr of Christ, approaching the abyss, cried out loudly to the serpent:
“I tell you and command you in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, who was voluntarily crucified for the human race, come out of your lair and crawl to me.
The serpent, hearing the saint's voice, stirred, and immediately the earth shook in that place. Saint Theodore, having made the sign of the cross, mounted his horse, which, tearing and trampling the emerging serpent, stood upon him with all four hooves.
Then the warrior of Christ Theodore struck the serpent with his sword and, having killed him, said:
– I thank You, Lord Jesus Christ, that You heard me at this hour and granted me victory over the serpent!
After this, he returned safely to his regiment, rejoicing and praising God. The citizens of Euchaita and the surrounding residents, hearing of this, came out to the field and, seeing the serpent slain by Saint Theodore, were amazed and cried out:
- Great is God Feodorov!
Then many of the people, and especially the soldiers, believed in Christ, and all of them, having been baptized, became one flock of Christ, glorifying the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.
After this, Saint Theodore, living in Heraclea, preached Christ, the true God, and many pagans converted to Christ. Every day, citizens gathered for baptism, and almost all of Heraclea had accepted the holy faith.
Hearing of all this, the wicked Emperor Licinius was greatly distressed and sent dignitaries with his bodyguards from Nicomedia, where he was then staying, to Heraclea, so that they would take Theodore Stratelates and bring him to him with honour.
When they arrived in Heraclea, Saint Theodore received them with honor: he treated them to a feast and gave each a gift, as he would to the king's servants. Then they began calling the saint to Licinius:
"Go," they said, "to Nicomedia, to the emperor who loves you so much; for he, having heard of your courage, your beauty and your wisdom, greatly desires to see you, intending to honor your valor with worthy honors and gifts.
Saint Theodore answered them:
- Let the will of the Tsar and yours be done, just rejoice and be glad today, and tomorrow we will fulfill what needs to be fulfilled.
Three days had already passed, and yet, despite the messengers' urgings that Saint Theodore accompany them to the Emperor, he remained in his city. Then, leaving some of the Emperor's sent men with him, Saint Theodore sent the rest to the Emperor with a letter in which he said that he could not leave his city at a time when there was such great unrest among the people: for "many," he wrote, "having abandoned their ancestral gods, worship Christ, and almost the entire city, having turned away from the gods, glorifies Christ, and there is danger that Heraclea will depart from your kingdom." "Therefore," he continued, "make an effort, Emperor, and come here yourself, taking with you the statues of the more glorious gods—do this for two reasons:
1) to pacify the rebellious people and
2) to restore the ancient piety; for when you yourself, with us, bring them sacrifices before all the people, then the people, seeing us worshiping the great gods, will begin to imitate us and will be strengthened in the fatherland’s faith.”
Saint Theodore wrote such a letter to Emperor Licinius, urging him to come to Heraclea: the saint wanted to suffer in his city in order to sanctify it with his blood, shed for Christ, and to strengthen others in the holy faith with his suffering and courageous deed.
King Licinius accepted this letter from Stratelates and, having read it, was glad.
Without delay, he took with him about eight thousand soldiers and the most noble of the Nicomedian citizens, and joyfully set off with his princes and dignitaries to Heraclea; he also took with him the idols of the gods most revered by the people, both gold and silver.
That same night, when Saint Theodore was praying as usual, he had this vision: it seemed to him that he was in a temple, the roof of which had opened, and from there a heavenly light was shining, as from some great luminary, and illuminating his head; and then a voice was heard:
- Go ahead, Theodore, I am with you!
After this the vision stopped.
Then Saint Theodore realized that the time had come for his suffering for Christ, and he rejoiced, his spirit aflame. Hearing that the emperor was approaching the city, he entered his prayer room and prayed with tears:
– O Lord, God Almighty, who does not abandon all who trust in Thy mercy, but defends them, be merciful to me also, and preserve me by Thy intercession from the enemy’s deception – let me not fall before my enemies, and let not my enemy rejoice over me; stand before me, my Savior, during the time of the struggle that lies before me, which I so desire to bear for Thy holy name; strengthen and confirm me and grant me the strength to stand up for Thee courageously, even to the point of bloodshed, and to lay down my life for the sake of love for Thee, just as Thou, having loved us, laid down Thy life on the cross for us.
Having thus prayed with tears, Saint Theodore washed his face. Then, dressed in bright robes, he mounted his horse, the one on which he had once slain the dragon in Euchaita, and, together with his army and citizens, went out to meet the king. As was fitting, he bowed to him and, greeting him with respect, said:
– Rejoice, most divine king, most powerful autocrat!
The Tsar also greeted Saint Theodore very kindly; he kissed him and said:
"Rejoice, you too, most beautiful youth, brave warrior, glorious commander, and as bright as the sun, most wise guardian of the paternal laws and worthy of the diadem! It befits you to be king after me."
Conversing thus kindly and cheerfully, they entered the city to the sounds of timbrels and trumpets, and both joyfully lay down to rest that day.
In the morning, when the royal throne was prepared on a high platform in the square in the middle of the city, Emperor Licinius came with his entire retinue and with Theodore Stratelates and, sitting on the throne, began to praise the city, its citizens and Saint Stratelates, saying:
"Truly, this place is worthy to be called the throne of God: it should be considered another heaven for people; this city is great, and its inhabitants are many, and they are all pious and devoted to their gods. Truly, in no other place are our great gods revered as here; and there is no more fitting and convenient place for serving the great gods than this; that is why Heracles, this wonderful and most courageous of our gods, the son of the great god Dius and the goddess Alcmene, 1264 loved this place and named it the city of Heraclea in his own name; and truly, Theodore, it is worthy to become your possession: it is fitting for you to possess this wonderful city, and only you are worthy to rule such a people. For you honor our gods, and all your love is directed towards them; Day and night, you do nothing but care for the ancient Greek gods. Therefore, show them your love and offer them sacrifice and worship, so that all the people may see your zeal for the gods and know that you are a true friend of the great gods and pleasing to the king.
Thus spoke Licinius, seducing and flattering the saint. Saint Theodore responded to the emperor:
"May my life be long, O King. Your will be done, but give me today for my home the images of the great Greek gods you took with you, both gold and silver, so that this night and the following night I may first honor them in my home, with sacrifices, incense, and perfumes; and then, if you command, I will offer them sacrifices openly before all the people."
The Tsar, hearing this, was overjoyed. He immediately ordered the gold and silver idols brought. Saint Theodore, taking them with him, went home and there, at night, crushed and smashed them into small pieces, distributing these pieces to the poor.
Two days later, the emperor sent a message to the saint, commanding him to fulfill his promise and offer sacrifices to the gods before all the people that very day. Theodore, having promised to fulfill all this, hastened to the emperor, and the emperor, together with him, rode to the square located in the middle of the city. There, seated on his throne, he said to Saint Theodore:
"Most wise Theodore, excellent commander, honored by the kings who came before us! The day of sacrifice and celebration has arrived. So, publicly offer sacrifices to the gods, so that all the inhabitants may see your reverence for them and thereby become even more diligent and zealous in their sacrifices."
While the king was saying this, one of the centurions standing there, named Maxentius, said to him:
"I swear by the great gods, King, you have been deceived by this impious Theodore. For yesterday I saw the golden head of the goddess Artemis in the hands of a beggar who was walking along rejoicing. I asked: where did you find it? And he told me that Theodore Stratelates gave it to him."
Hearing this, King Licinius shuddered and, perplexed, remained silent for a long time.
Then Saint Theodore said to him:
"This is the power of Christ for me: everything Maxentius the centurion told you, O king, is true, and I did well to smash your idols. For if they couldn't help themselves when they were being crushed, how can they help you?"
Licinius, having heard Saint Theodore's reply, remained speechless for some time, as if dumb and insane. Sitting in great sorrow, resting his head on his right hand, grieving and lamenting, he finally said:
"Woe is me, woe is me! How I have been insulted! And what I will say or do now—I know not. Being a most powerful king and having gathered such a large number of warriors, I came to this unfortunate man, and now I am ridiculed by all my enemies, especially because this wretched man crushed my victorious gods and gave them to the poor."
Then, turning to the saint, he said:
"Theodore, is this your recompense to the gods for the gifts you accepted from them? Is this what I expected when I showered you with such great honors? And is this why I left Nicomedia to come to you now? O evil and vile man! Truly, you are the son of deceit and the vile abode of wickedness, who coerced me into coming here with flattery. But I swear to you by the power of my great gods, I will not tolerate this, and your cunning will end badly for you."
The saint answered Licinius:
"Mad king, why are you so angry? Look for yourself and understand the power of your gods. If they were truly gods, then why didn't they help themselves? Why didn't they get angry at me when I smashed them and send fire from heaven to burn me? But they are soulless and powerless things, as easily cut by the hand of man as gold and silver. You, king, are angry and indignant, but I laugh at your madness. You are angry and furious, but I am brave and pay no attention to your rage. You grieve, but I rejoice in the destruction of your gods. You oppose the Lord, but I bless Him. You blaspheme the true God, but I praise Him in hymns. You worship dead gods, but I worship the Living God. You serve the vile Serapis , but I serve my most pure and honorable Lord Christ, who sits upon the purest Seraphim. You revere the vile Apollo , but I honor the God who lives forever. You are the coal of Thrace , but I am the prince of Rome; you are Licinius the winnower, but I am Theodore, the gift of God . So, O Emperor, do not be angry or furious ; by doing so, you only reveal your inner torment and become like a donkey or some mule.
Then the emperor Licinius, becoming even more angry, ordered the saint to be stretched out naked in the form of a cross and beaten severely with raw ox sinews.
And the soldiers beat the holy martyr without mercy, taking turns among themselves, so that sometimes three, sometimes four soldiers beat him, and at this time Saint Theodore was given six hundred blows on the back and five hundred on the belly.
But King Licinius mocked him, saying:
- Theodore, be patient a little while, until Christ your God comes to you, Who will free you from the hands of the tormentor.
The saint answered:
– Do with me what you want, and do not stop: for neither sorrow, nor hardship, nor wounds, nor sword, nor any other torment will separate me from the love of Christ.
Then the king, inflamed with even greater rage, said:
– Do you still profess Christ?
And he ordered that the holy martyr be beaten again without mercy on the back with tin rods, and then that his body be scraped with iron claws and scorched with burning candles, and that his wounds be rubbed with sharp shards.
The saint, enduring all this courageously, said nothing but, "Glory to Thee, my God!" After all these torments, the emperor ordered Saint Theodore imprisoned, his feet bound with fetters, and deprived of food for five days. After five days, he ordered a cross prepared and the saint crucified on it.
And so, just as Christ our Lord was once crucified by Pilate, so now Saint Theodore was crucified on the cross by Licinius, and his hands and feet were nailed.
But the cruel torturers sought to further increase the saint's suffering and torment. They drove a long, sharp nail into him and slashed his body with razors; the youths and boys drew their bows and shot at his face, piercing the apples of his eyes with arrows.
“I,” says the notary 1270 Uar, who describes his sufferings, “seeing all these terrible torments and as if hearing his inner groans of suffering, threw down the book in which I had written all this down, and, falling down with tears at his feet, said:
– Bless me, my lord, bless me! Tell me, your servant, the last word!
My lord, the warrior of Christ Theodore, said to me in a quiet voice:
- Uar, do not leave your service and do not stop looking at my sufferings; describe them, describe my death and mark its day.
Then, calling out to the Lord, the saint said:
– Lord, You told me before: I am with You. Why then have You forsaken me now? See, Lord, how wild beasts have torn me to pieces for Your sake: the apples of my eyes are pierced, my body is shattered by wounds, my face is bruised, my teeth are broken; only bare bones hang on the cross. Remember me, Lord, who endure the cross for Your sake: for Your sake I have endured iron, fire, and nails. Now receive my spirit, for I am already departing from this life.
Indeed, Theodore's entire body was torn to pieces.
Licinius, thinking the martyr had died, left him hanging on the cross. But then, during the first watch of the night, an Angel of the Lord took the holy martyr down from the cross and restored him whole and healthy, as he had been before. Greeting him, the Angel said to him:
Rejoice and be strengthened by the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. Behold, the Lord is with you. Why did you say He abandoned you? So, complete your struggle to the end, and you will come to the Lord to receive the crown of immortality prepared for you.
Having said this to the holy martyr, the Angel became invisible. After this, the holy martyr Theodore, giving thanks to God, began to sing thus: "I will exalt You, my God, my King, and bless Your name forever and ever" ( Psalm 144:1 ).
And the impious Licinius, before dawn, sent two of his centurions, Antiochus and Patricius, ordering them:
“Go and bring me the body of Theodore, who died in suffering: I will put it in a tin box and throw it into the depths of the sea, so that the mad Christians will not take it somehow.
When they came to the place where Theodore was crucified, they saw a cross, but the martyr crucified on it was not there. And Antiochus said to Patricius:
"The Galileans are right when they say their Christ rose from the dead. He, I believe, also resurrected His servant Theodore."
At this point, Patrick, approaching the cross, saw Saint Theodore sitting on the ground and praising the Lord. Then Patrick cried out loudly:
– Great is the God of Christians, and there is no other god but Him!
After this, both centurions, approaching the saint, said:
“We beg you, martyr of Christ, accept us, for from this hour we too are Christians.
And both these centurions and the seventy soldiers with them believed in Christ that day.
Licinius, having learned of this, sent his governor Sixtus and three hundred soldiers with him to kill all who believed in Christ.
When these soldiers arrived and saw the miracles Saint Theodore performed by the power of Christ, they immediately believed in our Lord Jesus Christ. And a countless multitude of people flocked to the place, all crying out:
– There is one God, the God of Christians, and there is no other god besides Him!
And also:
"Who is this torturer Licinius? Let's stone him! For us, there is only one God and king—Christ, preached by Theodore!"
And a noise and rebellion arose among the people, and even bloodshed began.
A certain soldier named Leander ran to the spot with a drawn sword and rushed at Theodore, intending to strike him with it. Sixtus, the emperor's deputy, restrained him, snatched the sword from his hands, and cut it in half. Another soldier, Mirpos, a Greek by birth , rushed at Sixtus, the emperor's deputy, and killed him.
Saint Theodore, wishing to calm the people’s rebellion, said loudly:
– Cease, beloved! My Lord Jesus Christ, hanging on the Cross, restrained the Angels, lest they take vengeance on the human race.
After the martyr Theodore had spoken thus to the people, imploring and exhorting the people, the noise and popular confusion ceased.
At this time, the holy martyr walked past the prison, and all the people and soldiers followed him; the prisoners sitting in the prisons cried out loudly to the saint:
- Have mercy on us, servant of the Most High God!
The saint freed them from their bonds with his word, opened the prison doors and said to them:
– Go in peace, men, and remember me.
And the whole city gathered, and all renounced idolatry and glorified Christ – the One God.
During this time, the sick were healed, and demons were cast out of people. Anyone who was touched by the holy hand, or even who only touched his clothing, was immediately healed.
Then one of Licinius’s confidants, seeing what was happening, went to him and said:
– The whole city, having abandoned the gods, believed in Christ according to the teachings and sorcery of Theodore.
The emperor, filled with rage, immediately sent a soldier to behead Saint Theodore. The people, seeing this soldier, again rose up in tumult and rebellion: rebelling against Licinius, they wanted to kill his servant. Then the saint began to exhort the people to abandon this plan. He said:
– Brothers and fathers! Do not stir up rebellion against Licinius: for he is a servant of his father the devil, and I must now depart to my Lord Jesus Christ.
Having said this, he began to pray to God and after quite a long prayer he blessed the people.
Then, having made the sign of the cross, he said to his slave Uar:
- My child, Uar, take care to record the day of my death, and bury my body in Euchaita, on the estate of my parents; and when you too are approaching death, bequeath to be buried on my left side.
Then the martyr of Christ prayed again and, finally, having uttered the word: “amen,” he bowed his honest and holy head under the sword and was beheaded.
This happened on the 8th day of the month of February, on Saturday, at the third hour of the day 1273 .
After his beheading, the entire nation paid great respects to the martyr: taking candles and censers, Christians laid his body in a designated place, and then on June 8th, it was transferred with great solemnity to Euchaita, where countless miracles were performed, to the glory of Christ God—to Him, with the Father and the Holy Spirit, be honor and worship forever. Amen.
Source: https://azbyka.org/otechnik/Dmitrij_Rostovskij/zhitija-svjatykh/137