Holy Great-Martyr Theodore the General (286-305). Holy Prophet Zechariah (c. 520 BC).
Jude 11-25. Luke 23:1-34, 44-56.
Read Luke 23:1-34, 44-56
Glory to Jesus Christ! Glory forever!
Today the Church celebrates the Feast of the Holy Great-Martyr Theodore. For his bravery (he is noted as having killed a giant serpent living on a precipice in the outskirts of Euchaita which had devoured many people and animals), Saint Theodore was appointed military commander 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.
For this Saint 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 Saint 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 Saint 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.
According to the Synaxarion for the day, Saint 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, Saint Theodore voluntarily surrendered himself, and discouraged the Christians from rising up against his persecutors, 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.”
Today’s feast shows us the transformative nature of Christ’s voluntary passion and death which is narrated in the Gospel reading. This transformation is shown for the lives of His saints who by their voluntary deaths bear much fruit. For this reason, we Christians do not fear death, or consider it something to mourn over, as St. Athanasius the Great reminds us, “ The Lord over death set out to abolish death. Being Lord, he accomplished his aim. We therefore have passed from death to life…That is the reason our Savior restrained the women from weeping when he was being led to death. He said, “Do not weep for me.” He wished to show that his death was not an event for us to mourn about but rather to be joyful about, since he who died for us is alive!” (St. Athanasius, Festal Letter 9)
May the Holy Great-Martyr Theodore and all the holy and victorious martyrs pray to God for us!