The Divine Visitation to Elder Kyrillos of Evia on the Feast of the Translation of the Relics of Saint Theodore the General

St. Iakovos Tsalikes with his successor Elder Kyrillos

Elder Gabriel, abbot of the Monastery of the Venerable David in Evia, told the following story in a sermon on February 8, 2021 concerning a divine vision of his predecessor, Elder Kyrillos, which took place one June 8th, which is the feast of the Translation of the Sacred Relics of Saint Theodore the General.

One time because of the temptations he was facing he was in great sorrow. He went to his small cell very sad. When he arrived, on his bed was a book of the Lives of the Saints for the month of June and it was opened to the 8th of the month, on which date we commemorate the translation of the relics of Saint Theodore. At that moment he heard a voice from heaven that said to him:

The Story of the Church of Saint Theodore the General in the Cypriot Village That Bears His Name

Agios Theodoros is a village in the Limassol District of Cyprus, in the region of Pitsilia, which is why it is usually referred to as Agios Theodoros Pitsilias. There we find a church dedicated to Saint Theodore that was built in 1977 on the spot where an older church dedicated to Saint Theodore once existed. The interior of the church is decorated with frescoes painted by Romanian iconographers.

Miracle of Saint Theodore the General for the Widow Whose Only Son Was Taken by Pirates

In Herakleion of Pontus, the place where Saint Theodore the General was martyred, near his hometown of Euchaita, there was an attack of Ishmaelite pirates and many people were taken prisoner. Among the prisoners was the only child of a widow.

The widow cried inconsolably and went every day to the Church of the Great Martyr Theodore and begged him:

"I, my Saint Theodore, have entrusted my child to you from the beginning. And every year I celebrated your memory and did a liturgy to protect him. Now I am destitute and I have nowhere to bow my head. That is why I ask you, my Saint Theodore, to free him. I, the unfortunate one, would like to have some consolation too. You can do it for me, because you were martyred for the Master Christ and whatever you ask of Him, He gives it to you."

Clean Saturday Resource Page

 

First Saturday of Great Lent: Epistle and Gospel Reading

Synaxarion for the First Saturday of Great Lent

 

Panegyric to Great Martyr Theodore the Tiro (St. Gregory of Nyssa)

 

Discourse on the Miracle of the Holy Great Martyr Theodore on the First Saturday of the Holy Fast (Archbishop Nektarios of Constantinople) 

Holy Theodoroi Resource Page (Theodore the Stratelates and Theodore the Tiro)

 

Saturday of Souls Resource Page 

Homily for the First Saturday of Great Lent (St. Symeon the New Theologian)

Reflection for Clean Saturday (St. Theophan the Recluse)

Homily for the First Saturday of Great Lent (St. John of Kronstadt)

 

Discourse on Communion of the Holy Mysteries (St. John of Kronstadt) 

 
The Litany in Mykonos on the First Saturday of Great Lent 

 

Clean Week Resource Page

 

Great Lent Resource Page

 

Fasting Resource Page

 

The Church and Miracles of Saint Theodore the Stratelates in Karpasia of Cyprus

 

Wherever in Cyprus there is a church dedicated to Saint Theodore, it is dedicated to the Stratelates and not the Tiro, except in two cases (in Larnaca and Monagrouli). The other twenty-one churches, chapels and ruins are dedicated to the Stratelates. Only one chapel is dedicated to both Holy Theodoroi, located west of the village of Agios Therapon in Limassol and was of the basilica style. Unfortunately, however, the church was swept away by the river and rebuilt.

The village of Agios Theodoros in Karpasia has about a thousand inhabitants and owes its name to a church found there. It is built on the east side of the village, with dimensions of 42 feet long and 12 feet wide. It used to be the parish church of the village. At first sight it can be seen that it was built in three different eras. The original church was a square 12´X 12´ with a wooden roof. The second section was added later when the inhabitants of the village were enlarged by adding a new section 14´X 12´ with a vaulted roof, and during the Turkish occupation it seems that the third section was added as a section for females.

The Church of Saint Theodore the Tiro in the Sphorakion District of Constantinople

The Church of Saint Theodore the Tiro in the Sphorakion district of Constantinople was built in the mid-fifth century by the patrician Sphorakios, who was consul in 452. Just north of the Church of Hagia Sophia and the Forum of Constantine, it was one of the richest districts in Constantinople with large villas and palaces. The church was built on the site of an earlier chapel, and it was the first church dedicated to Saint Theodore in Constantinople. Inside the church was a chapel dedicated to Saint John the Forerunner, where his feasts were greatly celebrated. The church also served as an important school in the district. In the Patmian Codex 266, as well as other sources, it says that the consecration of the Church of Saint Theodore the Tiro in the Sphorakion is commemorated by the Orthodox Church on November 5.

On the Blood-Flowing Icon of Saint Theodore in Karsatas (St. Anastasios of Sinai)

Commemoration of the Miracle of the Blood-Flowing Icon of
Saint Theodore in Karsatas (Feast Day - June 8)

By St. Anastasios of Sinai

About four miles from Damascus, there is a village called Karsatas, in which village there is a church dedicated to Saint Theodore. Saracens came into this church, and lived there, causing every kind of filth and uncleanness from women and children and animals. One day many of them were sitting together and one of them shot an arrow at the icon of Saint Theodore and hit it on his right shoulder, and immediately there came out blood, which flowed to the bottom of the icon, while they all had looked at the sign that had taken place and the arrow sticking in the shoulder of the Saint and the blood flowing. And even though such a sign had taken place, those who saw it were not moved to a sense of sin. Neither did he who shot the arrow repent, nor were any of them troubled in themselves, nor did they leave the church, nor did they cease defiling it. Nevertheless vengeance came upon them.

Synaxarion of the Translation of the Sacred Relic of Saint Theodore the General

Translation of the Sacred Relic of St. Theodore the Stratelates (Feast Day - June 8)

Verses

Homeland of Theodore receive him dead,
Who is alive among the Martyrs enriching the celestial homeland.
On the eighth the body of the blessed Theodore was conveyed.

He was during the reign of Emperor Licinius (307–324), and was from Euchaita, which is commonly known as Ephleem, in Galatia. He lived in Heraclea which is located near the Black Sea. He was beautiful in his physical appearance, but even more beautiful in his soul, and adorned with reason and knowledge and wisdom, with some even calling him a fountain of rhetoric (vryorretora). Having been tried with every torment and punishment, he was perfected in martyrdom. As a conqueror his holy soul departed to the heavens. His holy relic remained on earth, and gushed forth a stream of healings to those who hastened to them with faith. The translation of this sacred relic we celebrate today. It was transferred from Heraclea to Euchaita, and it was placed in the parental home of the Saint, as the Martyr himself had communicated regarding this to his notary Abgar, before he was beheaded, the details of which are written in the Synaxarion of the Saint, which can be found under the eighth of February.*

Synaxarion of the Holy Martyr Basiliskos, Nephew of Saint Theodore the Tiro

St. Basiliskos of Comana (Feast Day - May 22)

Verses

Basiliskos delivered his head to beheading,
Trampling on the head of the noetic basilisk.
On the twenty-second Basiliskos suffered the sword.

During the reign of Emperor Maximian (286-305), the governor Agrippa was sent to the East against the Christians, to replace the governor Asklipiodotos, and having arrived in Comana of Cappadocia, he interrogated and punished the Christians. At that time Saint Basiliskos was there, who was from a village of the Black Sea in Amasea called Choumiala, and was the nephew of Saint Theodore the Tiro. He had beforehand struggled in martyrdom with Eutropios and Kleonikos,* the fellow soldiers of his uncle Saint Theodore. Because their lives came to a martyric end, Basiliskos remained shut in prison, which is why he desired to end his path in martyrdom. Wherefore he was made worthy of manifestations from God, who ordered him to bid farewell to his relatives, and then go to Comana in Cappadocia to be martyred there. The Saint therefore was set free from prison by soldiers, who accompanied him to his household. Having bid farewell to his relatives, and catechized them in the words of piety, he remained there with them. Because the Saint was sought for in the prison and could not be found, the governor became enraged. He thus ordered that wherever he was to be found, he was to be bound by two chains and have iron shoes with nails in them to be placed on his feet, and to be brought to trial with much force.

The Veneration of the Holy Theodores in Serres

The Old Metropolitan Cathedral of the Holy Theodores

"Among the many temples, [the Church of Saints Theodoroi] adorns, honors, and makes the city of Serres known to all, no less so than the other temples. It is a holy and sacred place to wonder and marvel at, built in honor of those saints whose name means 'Gift of God'."

- Theodoros Pediasimos (a man of letters and 14th century citizen of Serres)

The church of the gloriously martyred soldier saints, Saints Theodoroi, known also as the Old Cathedral, is located in the center of the old city of Serres. It is a large square basilica (internal dimensions 15.6 by 24 meters) is divided into two parts, the portico and the main body of the church, which is itself separated by two lines of columns into three naves. The large amount of early Christian masonry that was reused in the building of the church would indicate that it was built as early as the 6th century. The exquisite church has been renovated on a number of occasions. No information is available on the history of the monument until the 15th century. However, the manner in which the church was built, and its final form in particular, are the result of a number of bold, easily distinguished, major alterations made at different periods down the ages. The materials and methods used by the craftsman for each of these alterations have helped most of the reputable scholars who have researched the church's history to draw roughly the same fundamental conclusions as to its architecture and decoration.

Sources for the Veneration of Saint Theodore

5th-Century Sources

Pawstos Buzand, Epic Histories 4.10

Writing sometime in the 470s, the Armenian historian Pawstos Buzand attributes the death of the Arian emperor Valens (364-78) to Ss. Theodore and Sergius. The story is very similar to one also told of St. Mercurius, that he had killed the pagan emperor Julian (360-63).

Then King Valens gave an order for an expert to be sought and found who would be able to confront the Christian faith in writing. And he was told that there was a skilled sophist in a certain city. And so, the emperor sent his magistrianoi to him so that they might hasten to go and bring the man to him without delay, and they hurriedly fetched him.

The Passion of Saint Theodore the Recruit

St. Theodore the Tiro (Feast Day - February 17)

1. During their time Maximianus and Maximinus sent throughout all the territory of their empire an edict against all the followers of the true religion of Christ, that they could escape tortures and live by tasting food which had been offered in sacrifice, and that those who spoke against this were to be surrendered to the judges and subjected to many different punishments. At this time Theodore was conscripted for military service, and together with him many other recruits, and was assigned to a legion titled the legio Marmaritarum under the command of the praepositus Brincas. This legion was staying in the city of Amasea in the province of Hellespontus, where all were being compelled to offer sacrifice to the idols in accordance with the imperial edict.

Two Miracles of Saint Theodore the Stratelates Against the Rus in the 10th Century

1. Against the Rus in 941

The celebrated appearances of Theodore Stratelates in battles against the Rus are discussed in various historical writings. The Saint's first appearance, in 941 under Romanos Lekapenos, is recounted in the Life of Basil the Younger. Although this is a work of hagiography, it includes detailed descriptions of a number of historical events from the early to mid tenth century and seems to have been written by a contemporary.

The Chapel of Saints Theodoroi in Nafplio, Built by Theodoros Kolokotronis

Between the years 1825 to 1832 Theodoros Kolokotronis, the General and hero of the Greek War of Indpendence who was known as the Elder of the Morea, together with his relatives built a chapel to his patrons Saints Theodoroi (Theodore the General and Theodore the Tiro), on property known as Kiul Tepe that was given to him after the liberation of the city from the Turks.

Holy Theodoroi Resource Page (Theodore the Stratelates and Theodore the Tiro)

 

 

Saint Theodore the Stratelates (February 8 & June 8) 

 

Synaxarion of Holy Great Martyr Theodore the Stratelates  

 

The Great Martyr Theodore the Stratelates 

 

Saint Theodore the General as a Model for our Lives 

 

February: Day 8: Holy Great Martyr Theodore Stratelates

 

June: Day 8: Holy Great Martyr Theodore Stratelates 

 

Prologue in Sermons: June 8

 

Holy Great Martyr Theodore the Stratelates in the Hymnography of the Orthodox Church 

 

Translation of the Relics of the Holy Great Martyr Theodore the Stratelates in the Hymnography of the Orthodox Church 

 

Homily on the Holy Great Martyr Theodore the Stratelates (St. Luke of Simferopol)

Two Miracles of Saint Theodore the Stratelates Against the Rus in the 10th Century

Synaxarion of the Translation of the Sacred Relic of Saint Theodore the General 

 

The Relics and Blood-Gushing Icon of St. Theodore the Stratelates 

 

The Relics and Blood-Flowing Icon of St. Theodore Stratelates 

 

The Church and Miracles of Saint Theodore the Stratelates in Karpasia of Cyprus  

 

Miracle of Saint Theodore the General for the Widow Whose Only Son Was Taken by Pirates

 

The Divine Visitation to Elder Kyrillos of Evia on the Feast of the Translation of the Relics of Saint Theodore the General

The Story of the Church of Saint Theodore the General in the Cypriot Village That Bears His Name

 

 

Saint Theodore the Tiro (February 17 & First Saturday of Great Lent) 

 

Synaxarion of Saint Theodore the Tiro and Great Martyr 

 

Synaxarion for the First Saturday of Great Lent 

 

Panegyric to Great Martyr Theodore the Tiro (St. Gregory of Nyssa) 

 

The Passion of Saint Theodore the Recruit 

 

Discourse on the Miracle of the Holy Great Martyr Theodore on the First Saturday of the Holy Fast (Archbishop Nektarios of Constantinople) 

 

February: Day 17: Holy Great Martyr Theodore the Tiro

 

Holy Great Martyr Theodore the Tiro in the Hymnography of the Orthodox Church 

 

The Church of Saint Theodore the Tiro in the Sphorakion District of Constantinople 

 

The Relics of Saint Theodore the Tiro in Brindisi, Italy 

 

The Veneration of Saint Theodore the Tiro in Samos 

 

St. Theodore the Tiro Day in Bulgaria 

 

Church of Saint Theodore the Tiro in Derinkuyu of Cappadocia

 

Saints Eutropios, Kleonikos and Basiliskos the Martyrs 

 

Synaxarion of the Holy Martyr Basiliskos, Nephew of Saint Theodore the Tiro 

 

The Miracle of Saint Theodore the Recruit With the Kollyva (For Children) 

 

The Tradition of the "Kollyva-Saturday" of Saint Theodore in Oia of Santorini

 

A Strange Custom Related to St. Theodore the Tiro 

 

First Saturday of Great Lent: Epistle and Gospel Reading

 

 

Shrines

 

The Church and Miracles of Saint Theodore the Stratelates in Karpasia of Cyprus 

 

The Church of Saint Theodore the Tiro in the Sphorakion District of Constantinople 

 

The Veneration of Saint Theodore the Tiro in Samos 

 

The Veneration of the Holy Theodores in Serres 

 

The 11th Century Church of Saints Theodoroi in Klafthmonos Square in Athens 

 

The Chapel of Saints Theodoroi in Nafplio, Built by Theodoros Kolokotronis 

 

The Metropolitan Cathedral and Sts. Theodoroi Church In Mytilene 

 

Church of Saint Theodore the Tiro in Derinkuyu of Cappadocia

 

 

Veneration

 

Sources for the Veneration of Saint Theodore 

 

The Iconographical Type of Saints Theodore Teron and Theodore Stratelates Facing Each Other and its Diffusion during the Byzantine and Post-Byzantine Period