S
eptember 24
According
to ancient Syrian and Greek manuscripts, Saint Thekla was born into a
prosperous pagan family in the Lycaonian city of Iconium (present-day
south central Turkey) in A.D. 16. When she was 18 years old and
betrothed to a young man named Thamyris, Saint Paul the Apostle and
Saint Barnabas arrived in Iconium from Antioch (Acts 14). Thekla’s
mother Theokleia prohibited her from joining the crowds that gathered
to hear Paul preach. But Thekla found that if she sat near her bedroom
window she could hear his every word. Thekla sat there for three days
and three nights listening to Paul preach the word of God. She was
particularly touched by his call to chastity. As it became apparent
that Thekla was becoming interested in the new Faith, Theokleia and
Thamyris went to the governor of the city and complained about Paul and
his preaching. To pacify them and the other outraged citizens of
Iconium, the governor had Paul imprisoned to await trial.
When Thekla learned of Paul’s arrest she secretly went to the prison,
and using her golden bracelets to bribe the guard, gained admittance to
his cell. When she was the Apostle she knelt before him and kissed the
chains that bound his hands and feet. She remained there for a long
time listening to his message of the Good News of Jesus Christ.
Being concerned at Thekla’s prolonged absence, Theokleia and Thamyris
asked her servant if she knew where she was. The servant said that
Thekla had gone to visit an imprisoned stranger. Theokleia and Thamyris
knew at once that she was with Paul. They decided to go again to the
governor, this time demanding immediate judgement for the Apostle.
After the governor chastened Paul for the disturbances he had caused in
the city, he had him stoned and expelled from the Iconium. The governor
then admonished Thekla for her foolishness and commanded her to return
home with her mother and fiancé’. When Thekla announced that she had
vowed to remain a virgin for the sake of Christ, her mother became
enraged and asked the governor to threaten Thekla with severe
punishment. The governor complied with this wish and ruled that Thekla
was to be burned at the stake unless she renounced her faith in Christ.
When Thekla refused to renounce her Heavenly Bridegroom, she was taken
to the arena for punishment. As she was tied to the stake she saw a
vision of Jesus Christ which gave her strength to face the flames. The
fire was lit, but as the flames came near Thekla a thunderstorm
suddenly arose and a great torrent of rain and hail came down from
heaven and extinguished the flames. Embarrassed because his plan had
failed, the angry governor released Thekla but commanded that she must
leave the Iconium at once.
Upon her release, Thekla went to the outskirts of the city where she
rejoined Paul. She told him of her trial and miraculous escape from
punishment and asked for baptism. Paul refused to baptize Thekla,
saying that this would be accomplished in God’s own way and time. Paul
and Thekla then departed from the region of Iconium and traveled to
Antioch in Syria. As they were entering the city a young nobleman named
Alexander way Thekla. Being entranced by her beauty he rushed forward
and tried to seduce her, but Thekla fought him off, thus, disgracing
him in front of his crowd of friends. Alexander went to the governor of
Antioch and complained that this wandering girl had disgraced him, a
nobleman, in public. He demanded that she be punished with death. The
governor complied and ruled that Thekla would face the wild beasts in
the arena. Thekla’s only reply was that she be allowed to preserve her
virginity unto death. Her with was granted and she was given into the
care of the noblewoman Tryphaena, a relative of Caesar, until the time
of punishment.
|
Troparion to St. Thekla
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| O glorious Thekla, companion of Paul the divine, you were enflamed with the love of your Creator, by the teaching of the divine preacher. You despised the passing earthly pleasures, and offered yourself to God as an acceptable and pleasing sacrifice, disregarding all suffering. Intercede with Christ your Groom to grant us His great mercy. |
When
Thekla was taken to the arena, a lioness was set free to attack her.
But to the astonishment of the crowd, the lioness approached the Saint
and sat tamely at her feet. A bear was then released, but as it came
close to Thekla the lioness rose up to defend her and killed the bear.
A large lion was then released. The lioness again came to Thekla’s
defense killing the lion, but losing its own life also. Then all the
cages were opened and a large number of wild animals charged at the
defenseless Thekla. After crossing herself and praying for courage, the
Saint noticed a large tank of water which was nearby, containing the
aquatic animals. She climbed into the water, asking that she might be
baptized by Christ as she did so. Seeing that the beasts wee unable to
harm Thekla, Alexander asked that the Saint be given over to him for
punishment. He tied her to two large bulls in the hopes that they would
pull her asunder. But when the bulls charged off in the opposite
directions, the ropes which held Thekla to them were miraculously
loosened and she was spared. Seeing that no harm could be done to
Thekla, the authorities released her. She went to the home of Tryphaena
where she remained for eight days preaching the Good News of Jesus
Christ and converting Tryphaena and her entire household. When she
departed from Antioch, Tryphaena gave her a treasure in gold and
precious jewels.
After she left Antioch, Thekla journeyed to Myra where she rejoined Paul. She informed him of all that had occurred, including her baptism and asked that she might be permitted to spend the remainder of her life as an ascetic. Paul gave her his blessing and she departed, leaving with Paul all the gold and jewels that Tryphaena had given her so that he might distribute them among the poor and needy.
Thekla then traveled again to Syria where she went up into the mountains for a life of prayer and solitude. Many years later a young pagan found her praying in an isolated canyon and resolved to harass her and spoil her virginity. As he approached her and blocked her only exit to safety, she prayed that her Bridegroom would protect her as He had so many times in the past. At that moment the canton all was miraculously split allowing her to escape through a narrow crack in the rock.
Saint Thekla continued her life of asceticism and then peacefully fell asleep in Christ at the age of 90. Shortly after her death a community of virgins went to live in her mountain cell, building a small chapel to enshrine her body. The Convent of Saint Thekla still exists today near the village of Maaloula, Syria.
Because of her many sufferings for the Faith the Church counts her as a "Protomartyr". And because she converted so many people to Christianity she is also known as an "Equal-to-the-Apostles".
Holy Saint Thekla, pray unto God for us!
St. Thekla is the patron saint of the outdoor chapel at the Antiochian Village.