Theodore Tiron
Saint Theodore (Άγιος Θεοδώρος), distinguished as Theodore of Amasea, Theodore the Recruit (Θεοδώρος ό Τήρων), and by other names, is a Christian saint and Great Martyr, particularly revered in the Eastern Orthodox Churches but also honored in Roman Catholicism and Oriental Orthodoxy. According to legend, he was a legionary in the Roman army who suffered martyrdom by immolation at Amasea in Galatian Pontus (modern Amasya, Turkey) during the Great Persecution under Diocletian in the early 4th century. Venerated by the late 4th century, he became a prominent warrior saint during the Middle Ages, attracted a great deal of additional legends including accounts of battle against dragons, and was often confused with (or was the original source of) the similar Theodore Stratelates of Heraclea.
Theodore
Catholic Church: 9 November
Eastern Orthodox Church: 17 February and the first Saturday in Great Lent;
Korčula: 27 July
Names[edit]
Theodore is the English form of the Latin masculine given name Theodorus from Ancient Greek Theódōros (Θεόδωρος) from Theós (Θεός, "God") + dō̂ron (δῶρον, "gift"). In Rome, he was also known to locals as St Toto.[1] He was eventually distinguished from other saints named Theodore as Theodore the Recruit,[3] Theodore the Tyro,[2] or Theodore the Soldier[4] (Latin: Theodorus Tyro or Tiro; Greek: Θεόδωρος Τήρων or ὁ Τήρων, Theódōros Tḗrōn or ho Tḗrōn).[a] The same name is variously anglicized as Theodore Tiron,[6] Tiro,[1][7] Tyron,[8] Tyro,[1][9] and Teron.[10] (Nilles argued that this epithet was a later mistake and that, rather than being a recruit, Theodore's name had originally referenced his service in the Cohors Tyronum.)[1][11] The saint is also distinguished as Theodore of Amasea,[1][12] Theodore of Euchaita,[1][13] and Theodore Martyr. The epithets are not generally needed, as Theodore Tiron is generally the intendend saint when the name "St Theodore" is used without other clarification.[6][14]
Legend[edit]
Martyrdom[edit]
Theodore was a Greek,[15] born in Amasea. The basic legend recounts that Theodore's cohort was sent to Pontus for winter quarters.[1] Christianity was still illegal and Galerius, prior to his 311 Edict of Toleration at Serdica, enforced his co-emperor Diocletian's Great Persecution. When the soldiers of Theodore's cohort were obliged to perform pagan sacrifice at Amasea in Galatian Pontus (modern Amasya, Turkey, about 30 miles or 48 kilometres south of the Black Coast at Sinop), he refused and recounted a confession of faith in the divinity of Jesus Christ.[1] Rather than immediately execute him, the judges—taking pity on his youth—delayed their sentence to allow him to change his mind.[1] Theodore then burned the city's temple of Magna Mater (Cybele), whereupon he was again arrested, tortured, and martyred by immolation.[1][16][17] The year of his martyrdom is cited as 287 in the legenda aurea, but later tradition including Butler has the year 306.[1][18] His relics were later carried to Euchaita, possibly his birthplace, by the Christian empress Eusebia[4] sometime before her death in 360.
SS Theodore of Amasea (left) and Theodore of Heraclea (right) in a fresco at Kremikovtsi Monastery, Bulgaria (c. 16th cent.)
SS Theodore of Amasea (left) and Theodore of Heraclea (right) in a fresco at Rila Monastery, Bulgaria (c. 19th cent.)
