The Holy First-Martyress and Equal-to-the-Apostles Thekla
Commemorated on September 24
The Holy
First-Martyress and Equal-to-the-Apostles Thekla was born in the city of
Iconium. She was the daughter of rich and illustrious parents, and moreover she
was distinguished by extraordinary beauty. At 18 years of age they betrothed
her to an eminent youth. But having heard the preaching of the holy Apostle
Paul about the Saviour, Saint Thekla with all her heart came to love the Lord
Jesus Christ, and she steadfastly resolved not to enter into marriage, but
rather to devote all her life to preaching the Gospel. The mother of Saint
Thekla was opposed to her daughter's plans and demanded that she enter into
marriage with the bridegroom betrothed to her. Saint Thekla's fiancee likewise
made a complaint to the governor of the city against the Apostle Paul, accusing
him of turning his bride against him. The governor locked up Saint Paul in
prison. During the night Saint Thekla secretly ran away from her house, and she
bribed the prison guards, giving them all her gold ornaments, and so made her
way into the prison to the prisoner. For three days she sat at the feet of the
Apostle Paul, hearkening to his fatherly precepts. The disappearance of Thekla
was discovered, and servants were sent out everywhere in search of her. Finally
they found her in the prison and brought her home by force.
At his trial the
Apostle Paul was sentenced to banishment from the city. And with Saint Thekla
they again began urging her to consent to the marriage, but she would not
change her mind. Neither the tears of her mother, nor her wrath, nor the
threats of the governor were able to separate Saint Thekla from her love for
the Heavenly Bridegroom, the Lord Jesus Christ. Her mother in a insane rage
demanded from the judges a death sentence against her unyielding daughter, and
Saint Thekla was sentenced to burning. Without flinching, the holy martyress went
into the bon-fire and made the sign of the cross over herself. At this moment
the Saviour appeared to her, blessing her present deed, and inexpressible joy
filled her holy soul. The flames of the bon-fire shot up high, but the
martyress was surrounded by an halo and the flames did not touch her. Thunder
boomed, and a strong downpour of rain with hail extinguished the bon-fire. The
torturers scattered in fear. Saint Thekla, kept safe by the Lord, quit the city
and with the help of a certain Christian youth searched out the Apostle Paul.
The holy apostle and his companions, among which was also the Disciple
Barnabas, were hidden away in a cave not far from the city, praying fervently,
that the Lord would give strength to Saint Thekla in her sufferings.
After this, Saint
Thekla went together with them preaching the Gospel in Antioch. In this city
she was pursued by a certain dignitary named Alexander, who was captivated by
her beauty. Saint Thekla refused his offer to enter into marriage, and so for
being a Christian she was condemned to death. Twice they set loose upon her
hungry wild animals, but they would not touch the holy virgin, but instead lay
down meekly and licking at her feet. The Providence of God preserved the holy
martyress unharmed through all her torments. Finally, they tied her to two oxen
and began to chase after her with red-hot rods, but the strong cords broke
asunder like cob-webs, and the oxen ran off, leaving Saint Thekla unharmed. And
the people began shouting: "Great is the God of the Christians!" The
governor himself became terrified, reasoning it out finally, that the holy
martyress was being kept safe by the Almighty God, Whom she served. He then
gave orders to set free the servant of God Thekla.
With the blessing of
the Apostle Paul, Saint Thekla then settled in the desolate surroundings of
Isaurian Seleucia and dwelt there for many years, constantly preaching the Word
of God and healing the sick through her prayer. Saint Thekla converted many pagans
to Christ, and the Church names her worthily as
"Equal-to-the-Apostles" ("Ravnoapostol'na"). Even a pagan
priest, seeking to assault her purity and punished for his impudence, was
brought by her to holy Baptism. More than once the enemy of the race of man
tried to destroy Saint Thekla through people blinded by sin, but the power of
God always preserved this faithful servant of Christ.
When Saint Thekla was
already a 90 year old woman, pagan sorcerers became incensed at her for
treating the sick for free. They were unable to comprehend that the saint was
healing the sick by the power of the grace of Christ, and they presumed that
the virgin-goddess Artemis (Diana) was her especial patroness. Out of envy
against Saint Thekla, they sent their followers to defile her. When they had
already approached quite close to her, Saint Thekla cried out for help to
Christ the Savior, and the hill split open and hid the holy virgin, the bride
of Christ. And thus did Saint Thekla offer up her holy soul to the Lord.
Holy Church glorifies
the "First-Suffering" Thekla as "of women the glory and guide
for suffering, opening up the way through every torment". From of old many
a temple was dedicated to her, one of which was built at Tsargrad
(Constantinople) by the holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Constantine (Comm. 21 May).
And then too, the name of the First-Martyress Equal-to-the-Apostles Thekla, a
prayer intercessor for the ascetic, is remembered during the tonsure of women
into monasticism.
© 1996-2001 by translator Fr. S. Janos.
