Your Faith Journey with EWTN
As we deepen our relationship with the Eternal Word, Jesus Christ, we grow in grace and are transformed by His love and mercy.
Birth date unknown – Died February 17, c. 306
Patron Saint of soldiers, Venice, against storms, recovery of lost articles
St. Theodore the Martyr is a revered figure, but few details are known about his life. His title “tiro” or recruit indicates he was a young soldier in the Roman army. St. Theodore was brought before the Roman emperor Diocletian and arrested for refusing to sacrifice to pagan gods.
St. Theodore the Martyr was assigned to an area in Asia Minor where the Emperor Diocletian issued an edict against Christians. In a speech in the 4th century, St. Gregory of Nyssa described St. Theodore the Martyr as a Roman soldier who was brought before the emperor and asked to offer sacrifice to the Roman gods. Instead, he declared their gods false and professed his belief in Jesus Christ. Given time to reflect on his behavior because of his youth, he instead burned down the temple of a Roman god and was tortured and burned at the stake.
Although precise historical details remain scarce, stories about St. Theodore recount miraculous intercessions attributed to him, particularly among Eastern Christians. St. Theodore’s courage under persecution points to his symbolic role as a defender of the Faith.
There are accounts of St. Theodore the Martyr being beheaded by the sword, being burned alive in a fire that did not harm him, or being burned at the stake. The differing stories could be because there were other St. Theodores around that era. The other details of his death remain unquestioned. After refusing to renounce his faith, he was tortured and executed for steadfastly professing Christ. His martyrdom placed him among the earliest of the “military saints” revered in both the East and the West.
The remains of St. Theodore the Martyr were reportedly buried near his place of birth. His relics were later moved to Venice, Italy, where they are housed in the Church of San Salvador. Other relics are kept in Constantinople at St. Theodore’s Church. His head is enshrined in Gaeta, Italy.
Devotion to St. Theodore the Martyr grew, particularly in the East, where he became a beloved intercessor for soldiers and protector of the faithful. One tradition is called the “Miracle of the Boiled Wheat.” It’s believed that St. Theodore appeared to the Archbishop, asking him to warn Christians that the emperor had defiled their food with animal blood offered to idols. St. Theodore instructed the people to eat boiled wheat with honey to maintain purity during fasting. Every year, the Eastern Orthodox Church distributes “koilva”, made with boiled wheat and fruit, to commemorate this event.
This eBook combines stunning photography from EWTN’s Vatican Bureau along with Bible passages and saints’ quotes that will calm your heart, give you hope, and remind you that God is with us always. Simply fill out the form below and we will send this to you!
As we deepen our relationship with the Eternal Word, Jesus Christ, we grow in grace and are transformed by His love and mercy.
STEP 1
