Theodore stratilate what they pray for. Saints Theodore Stratilat and Theodore Tyrone

A short life of the great martyr Theodore Stratelates, Heracles

Ve-li-ko-moo-che-nick Fe-o-dor Stra-ti-lat pro-is-ho-dil from the city of Eva-ha-it. He was de-len-many-mi-da-ro-wa-ni-i-mi and a beautiful red appearance. For mi-lo-ser-di, God proclaimed him to be so-so-so-to-know-no-hr-sti-an-is-is-ti. The courage of the holy-in-and-on was made of west by many after he killed God-mad-no with the help of God -th serpent, alive, in a pro-pa-sti in the vicinity of the city of the city of Ev-ha-and-that. The serpent did eat the same number of people and animals, the lady in fear all around. St. Feu-o-dor, in-ora-live-me-chom and mo-lit-howl to Gos-do-do, he-be-dil it, pro-sla-viv among de-lu-dei Name Hr-hundred-in. Behind the holy island of Fe-o-dor, he was significant in-on-on-chal-ni-com (stra-ti-la-tom) in the city of Gerak- further, where, as it were, he carried a double follow-up, his own responsible responsibility, with an apo-so-like pro-con The whole story of Evangeliya is among the pagan-ni-kov. His hot-tea-conviction, under-crepe-len-naya personal ex-r-hry-sti-an-en-nskogo life, from-vra-scha-la many many from pa - lip-no-godless lies. Soon, almost all of Herak-lei pri-nya-la hr-sti-an-en-est.

At this time, im-pe-toror Li-ki-niy (307-324) started the same-thing-hoo-not-on in hristi-an. He deigned to deny the new ve-ru, he got it right before the sacred sacrament of Christ-Sti-en -states, for some reason it is not without a basic-on-a-do-it-yourself vi-del that is the main threat to peace-of-the-tongue. Among them, the oka-hall and the holy Feo-o-dor. The holy self-invitation of Li-ki-niya to Herak-lei, after giving him an offer of sacrifice to the pagan gods. To make this magnificent center, he wanted to collect all the golden and silver from his house. -wa-I-Niya of the Gods, which were in the He-rak-lei. Blinded by the lack of visibility to Christ-st-en-ensty, Li-ki-niy, in faith, said a word to you for something holy. However, his expectation would be ob-ma-well-you: for-vl-dev is-tu-ka-na-mi, holy Fe-o-dor beat them on pieces and gave out to the poor. So, he really fucked up with a vera in soulless idols and bukal, but on oblom-kah tongues, he approved for-hri -sti-an-sk-go mi-lo-ser-diya.

The holy Feo-o-dor was seized-and under-verg-nut-same-hundred-kim and sophisticated tort-kam. Their svi-de-te-lem was the slave of the holy Fe-o-do-ra, the holy Ouar, a certain ed-wa na-ho-dil in himself to sow the faithful faithfulness of their own state-on-di-on. Anticipating the near death, the holy Theodore had already addressed to God the last follower of prayers, much like: “Lord di, re-kl mi es per-ve, Az am so-and-so, now is it almost that you left me here? See, God-dee, like a beast of di-vii ras-ter-for-sha me Te-be-ra-di, because of the bo-de-des are the essence of ze-ni-ts combed my-them, my flesh pa-on-mi times-fractional-la-e-, wounded-la-ee-fa, co-sha-o-se-zu-would, are the same all STI on the cross-vi-syat: me-no-me, Gos-po-di, pre-ter-pe-va-u-sh-th cross Te-be ra-di, same-le-zo, and the fire, and the nail of the boom for Ty: other than that, my spirit, I’m already waiting from this life. ”

However, God, according to His great mi-lo-sti, still did, so that con-chi-on the holy Fe-o-do-ra would be so the same is plausible for his neighbors, as is his whole life: He healed the ister-sacred body of the holy and brought him from the cross, to he was left for the whole night. In the morning, the tsarist vo-i-ny for the holy Fe-o-do-ra zhy-vym and nevre-diym; convinced firsthand in the demon-del-mo-gu-sh-hi-sti-an-sky-god, they are right there, not far from me-a hundred -so-ya-she-sha-trek-ni, if-nya-whether holy Baptism. So the holy Theodore appeared, “like a day, for-so-for-ren”, for being in the darkness of idol-lo-cloning of pagan-no-no and enlightened their souls “light-ly-mi-s-e-th-da-da-lu-cha-mi”. Not barking because of the need for the death of Christ for Christ, the holy Fe-o-dor dob-ro-vol-but betrayed himself in ru- ki Li-ki-niya, ostav-no-viv rebellious against mu-chi-te-lei na-gen, uvero-vav-shiy in Christ, words of mi: " Be-re-become-beloved! Lord Christ Jesus Christ, hanging on the Cross, holding the shaft of An-gels, so that they don’t take their revenge all the same. ” Going to the execution, the holy man, one word in a word, took dark two-ries and freed the god-given prisoners from the bonds. Liu-di, pri-ka-sa-yu-shchi-e-xia to his ri-deputy and chu-house Bozhi-im ob-nov-len-no-mu te-lu, instantly-ven-no is -tse la from bo-lez-ne and mastered-god-da-da from ow-ow. By order, the holy king Feo-o-dor was truncated by me-cho.

Before the death penalty, he said to Wa-ru: “Don’t be lazy to write down the day of kon-chi-ni to me, but my body to go to Ev- hai-tah. " With these words, he held the strength of hedgehog-year-but-for-mi-no-ve-wii. Then, ska-zav "Amen", he pre-clone-go-lo-woo under the sword. This is due 8 (21) Feb-la-la 319th year, at sub-bo-tu, at the third hour of the day.

The full life of the great martyr Theodore Stratelates, Heracles

The holy ve-li-ko-mu-che-nick Fe-o-dor Stra-ti-lat was betrayed to the mu-che-ni-th death in 319 in Rozh de Hrist-hundred-vom. In the pre-word-n-n-re-v-de with the Greek word “strati lat”, the meaning is “high-vo-in”, in te-ra-tour-nom pe-re-in-de - "in-e-in-yes", "in-e-on-chal-nick." The pro-is-ho-del of the holy Fe-o-dor from the city of Ev-ha-and-you, now Mar-si-an on the se-ve-re Ma-lo-azi-at-sko on the go in Turkey. The good news of the holy Evangelism in these places is when not-yet-se-na still in the apo-so-time of me-na.

Holy Feo-o-dor was on de-len from Gos-po-da many-gi-mi da-ro-va-ni-i-mi. Its you de la li-de-okru-ms-yu-shi-nature-naya-kra-so-ta, ve-li-ko-soul-heart, deeply know Christie-sti-en-sky istin, wisdom and beauty. The courage of the holy-in-and-on became a lot of the West after the way he, with the help of God, killed the mad-no -th serpent, alive, in a pro-pa-sti in the vicinity of the city-go-da Ev-ha-and-you. The serpent did eat the same number of people and animals, the lady in fear all around. Holy Feo-o-dor, for no reason, not at all, taking with him his usual weapons and having a cross on his heels, two-zero- camping on the road. Do-e-hav to-la near-pro-pa-sti, where the serpent lived in, Christ got down from him and lay down. In these places, there is a certain blah-go-che-sti-va same on behalf of Eve-se-viya. She would be pre-clone-naya le-ta-mi. For several years before this, she is-pro-si-la-te-lo svy-th mu-che-ni-ka Fe-do-ra Ti-ro-na, not a lot of roar on ko -st-re at the time of kaz-ni, rowed about him, about his own home and every year idle-no-wa-la his memory on the day of becoming -le-lionia 17 Feb-la-la (March 2). Bla-che-sti-vaya Ev-se-viya, uvi-dev sleeping-th-in-and-on Hri-hundred-va Fe-o-dora Stra-ti-la-ta, raz- bu-di-la him and py-ta-la was to kill-get away from these places, so as not to suffer from the snake. The mu-war warrior of Christ Feod-o-dor told her: “Get away and become farther from the place you are, and you will see -lu hri-hundred mo-e-th. " The women went away and began to pour to the Spa-si-te-lu about da-ro-va-nii-be-dy, dare to-and-fro. Ob-r-til-ya with the Molit-howl to the State-do-do and the holy Feo-o-dor: "State-de-Iisu-se Hrist-st, vos-si-yavsh from Because of Su-sschstvo, in my opinion, I’m in a bit of wahs and yes, I’m in your favor for so-so-so-so, You are still the same State "According to Christ, God, send me like you should be with you." Holy Feo-o-dor-be-del-de-choo-do-vi-shi, pro-sla-viv sred-di lu-dei name Hri-hundred-in. Behind the holy island of Feo-o-dor, it was significant in the town of Ge-rak-le near Cher-no-go Ry, ned-le-ko from Ev-ha-it. Here, the holy Feodor dor-co-tal is responsible for the military service with the apo-so-so-called pro-dude Evangeliy sre -to-pod-chi-nennih him pagan-no-kov. His hot-tea-vera, under-crepe-len-naya personal christ-sti-an-sky-me-rum, from-vra-scha-la many of them from para-labial -You-check. In rezul-ta-te, almost all of them were Ge-rak-lei, if they were Christ-an-en-est.

At that time, there were the same hundred-year-old nonsense in hristi-an. Im-pe-tor-tor Li-ki-niy (307-324 gg.), Died-viv-shi-rock mu-che-ni-kov Se-va-stii-sky, he got his go -non-niya is not on a simple people stand, but on a sacred love-giving-chi-sti-an-enstva, in some sort of vi-de-serie- threat for ot-mi-rav-ies-go-th-language. Having heard about the brave rum, ee-on-chal-ni-ke, they-pe-ra-tor-for-ho-tel see him and sent for him their close women Holy Feo-o-dor accepted the words with honor, but did not want to leave his own city. Pred-vidya na-me-re-niya im-pe-ra-to-ra, mu-che-nick Khristov ho-tel-suffer in his own go-ro-de that’s why he told them that he can’t get the hell out of him right now and he asks him to him. Na-ka-nune, when there was nothing to be done, the great vi-te-vi-te-la holy Fe-o-dor, udo-hundred-il-ya, chu-des-no-go vi-de- Niya. During the time of mo-lit, he suddenly saw himself in the temple, the roof of which was once hoisted, above the temple the heavenly heaven light and booming voice: "Der-zay, Fe-o-dor, I with that fight!". Fortified len-de-ni-em, holy-mu-che-nick-ob-r-til-si to the State-do-do with a little mo-lit-howl, forgiveness of Him Strengthen your strengths for the first time. Im-pe-tor-pri-e-khal, praise-with-a-ho-gold-and-silver-idols. He thanked the holy Feo-o-do-ru, praised him for the good management of the city and for I told him to bring it before the na-ro-house of the victim-ido-lam. Sacred that force-im-pe-pa-to-ra to leave idols for the night in his own home. Im-pe-ra-tor so-gla-force. For-vlad-dev is-tu-ka-na-mi, holy Feo-o-dor beat them for many parts and gave them cu-po-zo-lo-ta and se -re-beggar. So, he really fucked up with the vera in the soulless idols and on the oblom-ka of language, he asserted for-hr-sti-an- sk-go mi-lo-ser-diya. Mu-che-nick Khristov, on the order of im-pe-pa-to-ra, was grasped, and under-verg-nut-same-hundred-kim and sophisticated tort-kam. Mu-chi-te-li bi-whether it was wo-vy-mi-ji-la-mi and olo-vyan-ni-mi-pru-ti-mi, was ter-li his body-nail mi and pa-li-og-nem. All this is holy mu-che-nick-re-no-force with great-ter-pe-no-em and only in a second he said: “Praise Te-be, Bo- ours! ”After the mu-th-n-th bro-si-li in the same ni-tsu, and for five days they held there without food and water, and then, ister-zan-no-go-holy-at-nail-di-li to the cross and stay-vi-li at night. Mu-chi-te-whether-on-de-i-l, that he would die no-one on the cross. Gos-pod decided to proclaim his saint-s-th before all the people of He-ra-k-lii. In the morning, in-and-part, participation in the Kaz-ni, see what’s holy, mu-che-ni-ka-live and nev-di-dym. Convinced firsthand in demon-pre-del-n-mo-gu-shch-hsti-st-en-sk-bo-ha, they are right there, not far from me-a hundred hundred-yav-sha-sha treasury, if holy baptism. Mu-che-nik Fe-o-dor kept Ji-te-lei and v-i-nov, uve-ro-vav-shih in Christ, from me-te-zha, in their name: “Re-become-those-beloved!” Lord Christ Jesus Christ, hang on the cross, hold the shaft of an-gels, so that they don’t take revenge on you all the same. ” Mu-che-nik Khristov dob-ro-vol-no, but gave himself up to ru-ki mo-chi-te-lei. Going to execution, holy one word, open-door, two-ri so-prost, and mastered God-gave the bonds. Zhi-te-li Ge-rak-lii, pri-ka-sav-shi-e-si to his clothes-de, he-cel-la-were from bo-lez-ne and were freed from God be-owls. Before you let yourself go to ru-ki pa-la-cha, mu-che-nick Fe-o-dor zaschal-in-ho-ro-thread his body in Ev- ha-i-tah in the name of ro-di-te-lei. To his e-servant, Wa-ru, pri-ka-hall for all pi-ts, he was sub-ver-chan, for a n-da-da-ni bu -who-oo-le-nii hri-sti-an. After that, the martyr Christov long prayed and, finally, pro-because of the not-so-a-word “Amen”, pre-bent his honor under the sword and holy head. Execution was executed on February 8 (21) on 31 February at sub-bo-tu, at three in the afternoon. People-oka-hall is great-for-nothing-holy holy-ost-kam mu-che-ni-ka. On June 8 (21) the same year, they would be the same, but not re-not-se-se in Ev-ha-and-you. During the time of re-not-se-si, the body was sacred and already in the very same city, many people were smelling so much de-sa in the sla-vat of the Christ of God, to Him with Ot-ceme and the Holy Spirit, honor and worship forever. Amen.

Holy-to-be-loo-ko-mu-che-nick Fe-o-dor Stra-ti-lat, faithful to death Gos-do Do Jesus-su Hri-stu, fearless and sacrificial-va-e-on-chal-nick, brave sol-dates, from ancient-le-in-chi-ta-et-as-in-vro-tel pra-in-glory- but the first war.

In memory of ve-li-ko-mu-che-ni-ka Fe-o-do-ra Stra-ti-la-ta, building-and-lis temples we are in all the rights of glorious countries nah. According to my prayers to him, from His icons so-ver-sha-many many chu-de-sa. So holy, patriarch Arch Antiochii (599) and (c. 780) are po-o-na-oyu about chu-de, we pro-go in temple-fe-o-do-ra Stra-ti-la-ta neda-le-ko from Da-mas-ka in mestech-ka Kar-sa-ta in Syria. When these places were for hwa-che-ns sa-ra-tsi-na-mi, the temple was ra-zo-ren and in the future it was exposed to the omnibus niyu. In the building, there were sa-ra-tsi-ni. Once, one of them, taking a bow, put a stre-lu in na-pi-san-kras-ka-mi on the wall of the holy-fe-o-do -ra. Stra-la-la-pa in the right-hand player, something holy, and that hour on the wall-flow-la-stream-live-living-blood. Wicked-steve-woo-woo-it-mu, but the temple is not for-ki-well-whether. All in all, there are about twenty families in the church. According to some time, all of them collided for an unknown reason. Pestilence fell on the saint-tat-tsev, while their co-ple-men-ni-ki, living outside the temple, were not like that.

See also: in the same story of St. Di-Mitria of Rostov-sko.

See also: "" in the same saint. Di-Mitria of Rostov-sko.

Prayers

Troparia to the Great Martyr Theodore Stratilatus, voice 4

Voinstvosloviem true stpastoteppche, / heavenly Tsapya governor ppedobpy wast, Feodope: / bo opuzhiyami vepy fought Thou mudpenno / and hast conquered demons shelves, / and was victorious hast stpadalets / Wherefore cha vepoyu // ppisno count them happy..

Transfer: True military service, you have become a wonderful commander of the Heavenly King, Theodore: for you have armed yourself with the weapon of faith wisely, and destroyed the demons of the regiment, and you have become a victorious sufferer. Therefore, we always glorify you with faith.

Kondak to the Great Martyr Theodore Stratilatus, voice 2

With courage of soul, believe yourself /, and verse GOD GOD'S hand in hand, the enemy was defeated by Esi, / the martyrs of the victory of Theodore, // pray to God not with them all over us all.

Transfer: Having armed yourself with spiritual courage and the word of God, like a spear, taking it in your hand, you defeated the enemy, Theodore, the glory of martyrs; with them do not stop praying to Christ God for all of us.

Prayer to the Great Martyr Theodore Stratilat

Oh, holy, glorious and universal to the great martyr Theodore Stratilate! We pray to you before your holy: pray with us and for us, servant of God (names), imploring from His grace God, may He mercifully hear us, blessings upon Him who ask, and all of our salvation and salvation should we fulfill. We also pray for you, the holy victorious Theodore Stratilate, to destroy the forces of the enemies that rise upon us, visible and invisible. He begged the Lord God, all creatures of the Creator, to deliver us from eternal torment, and always glorify the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, and we will confess the representativeness, now and ever and ever. Amen.

In the presentation of St. Demetrius of Rostov

The wicked king Licinius 1, having taken the scepter after the wicked Maximian and imitating him in everything, immediately erected a great persecution against those who were distinguished by piety; he sent a decree of this wicked command to all cities and countries. At that time, many brave warriors of Christ were killed: Licinius killed the forty martyrs of Sebaste 2, also seventy glorious warriors and princes of his chamber, and finally killed three hundred men from Macedonia.

When the wicked Licinius saw that almost all Christians, despising his command, betray themselves for the holy faith in death, then he ordered to search only the most famous and noblest of them, that is, only those who were in his army, or lived in cities, and only ordered them (without paying attention to the multitude of ordinary people) to force idol worship; he hoped by fear to persuade all those under his authority to remain faithful to idolatry.

While everywhere with great care they began to look for the most famous of the Christians, Licinius, who was then in Nicomedia, found out that in Hercules 3, near the Black Sea, there lives a certain holy husband, named Theodore Stratilat, that he is a Christian and turns to many To Christ.

Saint Theodore was from Euchit 4, located near the city of Heracles; he was a man of courage and courage, in appearance - very handsome; in addition, he was distinguished by his wisdom and great eloquence, so he was called the “prioriator,” that is, the most skillful ornate 5. By imperial command, he was made a stratilate, that is, a governor, and the city of Heracles was given under his command; he was awarded this for his courage, which became known to everyone after he killed the serpent in the Euchites.

Not far from the city of Euchit, to the north of it, there was a deserted field, and in it there was a large abyss, inside of which there lived a huge serpent. When he came out of this abyss, the earth shook in that place; having come out, he devoured everything that only he could not come across, both man and beast.

Hearing about this, the brave warrior of Christ, St. Theodore, who was then still among the army, without telling anyone his intention, went out alone on that fierce serpent.

He took with him only his usual weapons, and on his chest he had a valuable cross. He said to himself:

I will go and deliver my fatherland by the power of Christ from this fierce serpent.

When he came to that field, he saw tall grass, got off his horse and lay down to rest. In this country, there lived a certain pious wife, named Eusebius. She was an old woman; a few years before this, she, having asked for the honest body of St. Theodore Tyrone 6, who had suffered during the reign of Maximian and Maximin, buried him with aromas in her house in Euchaites and celebrated his memory every year. This woman, seeing this second Theodore, the warrior of Christ, called the stratilate sleeping on this field, approached him with great fear, and, taking his hand, woke him, saying:

Get up, brother, and get away from this place as soon as possible: after all, you do not know that at this place many suffered a fierce death; so, getting up soon, go your way.

The honest martyr of Christ Theodore, rising, said to her:

What kind of fear and horror are you talking about, mother?

The servant of God Eusebius answered him:

A child, a huge serpent was wound up at this place, and therefore no one can come here: every day this serpent, leaving his lair, finds someone — a man or an animal, and at once kills him and devours it.

The courageous warrior of Christ Theodore said to this:

The woman, moving away from this place, was rolled to the ground, crying and saying:

God of Christians, help him in this hour!

Then the holy martyr Theodore, having created the sign of the cross, struck himself in Persian and, looking at the sky, began to pray like this:

Lord Jesus Christ, shining from the Father's Being, helping me in battles and giving victory to those who are resisting, - You are the same now, Lord Christ God: so send me overpowered from Thy saint, may I overcome this enemy - the serpent.

Then, talking with his horse as if with a man, he said:

We know that God's power and strength exists in everyone, both in people and in cattle, so help me, with the help of Christ, may I overcome the enemy.

The horse, after hearing the words of his master, stopped, waiting for the appearance of the serpent. Then the martyr of Christ, approaching the abyss, called out loudly to the serpent:

I speak and command you in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has crucified voluntarily for the human race, get out of your lair and crawl to me.

The serpent, hearing the voice of the saint, stirred, and immediately the earth in that place shook. Saint Theodore, having designated himself a sign of the cross, mounted a horse, which, tormenting and trampling the serpent that had come out, stood on it with all four hooves.

Then the warrior of Christ Theodore struck the serpent with a sword and, having killed him, said:

I thank you, Lord Jesus Christ, that you heard me at this hour and granted me victory over the serpent!

After that, he safely returned to his regiment, rejoicing and glorifying God. The citizens of Euchit and the surrounding inhabitants, having heard of this, went out onto that field and, seeing the serpent killed by St. Theodore, were surprised and cried out:

Great God Theodorov!

Then many Christians, and especially warriors, believed in Christ, and all of them, being baptized, became the one flock of Christ, glorifying the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.

After this, St. Theodore, living in Heracles, preached Christ the true God, and many of the Gentiles turned to Christ. Every day, citizens gathered for baptism, and almost all of Hercules accepted the holy faith.

Hearing about all this, the wicked king Licinius was very upset and sent dignitaries with their bodyguards to Heraclea, where he himself stayed, so that they would take Theodore Stratilat to him with honor.

When they came to Heracles, Saint Theodore received them with honor: he treated them and gave everyone a gift, like the servants of the king. Then they began to call the saint to Lycinia:

Go, they said, to Nicomedia, to the king whom she loves you so much; for he, having heard of your courage, of your beauty and wisdom, desires to see you, intending to honor your valor with a worthy honor and gifts.

Saint Theodore answered them:

Yes, the will of the king and yours, just have fun and rejoice today, and tomorrow we will fulfill what needs to be done.

Three days have already passed, and meanwhile, despite the convictions of those sent that Saint Theodore went with them to the king, he remained in his city. Then, leaving some of the royal men sent to him, St. Theodore sent the rest to the king with a letter in which he said that he should not leave his city at a time when there was so much confusion among the people: for “many,” he wrote, “ having left the domestic gods, they worship Christ, and almost the whole city, turning away from the gods, glorifies Christ, and there is a danger that Hercules will depart from your kingdom "; "therefore," he continued, "work hard, king, and come here yourself, taking with you the statues of more glorious gods, - do this for two reasons: 1) to pacify the rebellious people and 2) to restore ancient piety; for when you yourself with us before the whole people you sacrifice them, then the people, upon seeing us worshiping great gods, will imitate us and establish themselves in the Russian faith. "

Saint Theodore wrote such a message to Tsar Licinius, exciting him to come to Heracles: the saint wanted to suffer in his city in order to sanctify it with his blood shed for Christ, and with his suffering and courageous deed, to confirm others in the holy faith.

King Licinius accepted this letter of Stratilates and, having read it, was delighted.

Without hesitating a little, he, taking with him about eight thousand soldiers and the most notable of the Nicomedian citizens, gladly went with his princes and dignitaries to Heracles; he took with him the idols of the gods more revered by the people, both gold and silver.

That same night, when St. Theodore, as usual, prayed, he had this vision: it seemed to him that he was in a church whose roof was opened and a heavenly light shone from there, like from some great luminary, and illuminated the chapter his; and then a voice was heard:

Dare, Theodore, I am with you!

After that, the vision ceased.

Then St. Theodore realized that the time had come for his sufferings for Christ and rejoiced, burning with spirit. Hearing that the king was approaching the city, he entered his prayer room and prayed with weeping:

Lord, omnipotent God, who does not leave all those who trust in Your mercy, but who protects them, be merciful to me and observe me by your intercession from enemy seduction - may I not fall before my enemies and let my enemy rejoice over me; stand before me, my Savior, during the coming feat that I so desire to carry for your holy name; strengthen and establish me and give me strength courageously, to the blood, to stand up for you and lay my soul for the love of you, just as you, having loved us, laid your soul on the cross for us.

Thus, having prayed with tears, Saint Theodore washed his face. Then, dressed in light-colored robes, he mounted his horse, on which he had once killed a serpent in the Euchites, and, together with his army and citizens, came to meet the king; as befittingly, he bowed to him and, greeting him with reverence, said:

Rejoice, most divine king, most powerful autocrat!

The king also very kindly met St. Theodore; he kissed him and said:

Rejoice, you, the most beautiful young man, the brave warrior, the glorious governor, and like the sun bright, - the wise guardian of fatherly laws, and worthy diadem! You should be king after me.

Talking so kindly and merrily, they, to the sounds of tympans and trumpets, entered the city and both, in joy, went to rest that day.

In the morning, when the royal throne was prepared on a high platform in the square in the middle of the city, King Licinius came with all his retinue and Theodore Stratilates and, seated on the throne, began to praise the city, its citizens and St. Stratilates, saying:

Truly, this place is worthy to be called the throne of God: it should be revered by another heaven for people; this city is great, and there are many inhabitants in it, and besides, they are all pious and committed to their gods. Truly in no other place are our great gods venerated as here; and there is no more decent and convenient place to serve the great gods, like this; that is why Hercules, this wonderful and courageous god of ours, the son of the great god Diy and the goddess Alkmena 7, loved this place and in his own name called it the city of Heracles; and truly, Theodore, it is worthy to become your possession: it is fitting for you to possess this wonderful city and only you are worthy to rule such a people. After all, you honor our gods, and all your love is directed towards them; day and night, you do nothing else, as soon as you take care of pleasing the ancient Hellenic gods. Therefore, you now show your love for them and offer them a sacrifice with worship, so that the whole people will see your zeal for the gods and know that you are a sincere friend of the great gods and pleasing to the king.

So said Licinius, deceiving and caressing the saint. Saint Theodore answered the king in this way:

Long be the king. Thy will be done, only give me today the house of the image of the great Hellenic gods that you took with you, both gold and silver, so that on this night and next, first of all, I will honor them with me, and with sacrifices and censorship, and aromas; and then, if you command me, I will bring them sacrifices clearly before the whole people.

The king, hearing this, was very happy. He immediately ordered the bringing of gold and silver idols. Saint Theodore, taking them with him, went home and there, at night, crushing and breaking them into small parts, he distributed these parts to the poor.

Two days later, the king sent to the saint, commanding him to fulfill the promise and on the same day, before all the people made sacrifices to the gods. Theodore, promising to fulfill all this, hurriedly went to the king, and the king, along with him, went to the square, located in the middle of the city, and there, sitting on his throne, said to St. Theodore:

The wisest Theodore, a wonderful governor, venerated by the kings who were before us! Here came the day of sacrifice and festivity. So, publicly offer sacrifices to the gods, so that all the inhabitants will see your reverence for them and through this would become even more diligent and assiduous in their sacrifices.

While the king was saying this, one of the centurions standing here, by the name of Maxentius, told him:

I swear by the great gods, king, now you are deceived by this wicked Theodore. For yesterday I saw the golden head of the goddess Artemis 8 in the hands of one beggar who walked and rejoiced. I asked: where did you find her? And he told me that Theodore Stratilat gave him him.

Hearing this, King Licinius shuddered and, perplexed, was silent for a long time.

Then St. Theodore said to him:

This is what the power of Christ is for me: everything that Maxentius the centurion told you, king, is all true, and I did well by breaking your idols. For if they themselves could not help, being afflicted, how can they give help to you?

Licinius, after hearing such an answer from St. Theodore, remained silent for some time, as if a dumb man and having lost his mind. Sitting in great sorrow and leaning his head on his right hand, grieving and lamenting, he finally said:

Alas for me, alas for me! How scolded me! And what I’ll say now, what I’ll do, I don’t know. Being the most powerful king, and having gathered such a large number of soldiers, I came to this unfortunate person, and now I am ridiculed by all my enemies, especially because this damned crushed my victorious gods and gave them to the poor.

Then, turning to the saint, he said:

Theodore, is this your retribution to the gods for the gifts received from them? Was this what I expected when I showered you with such great honors? And for the sake of that I left Nicomedia, now coming to you? Oh, evil and vicious man! Truly — you are the son of deceit and the nasty dwelling of cunning — who made me come here by flattery. But, I swear to you by the power of my great gods, I will not tolerate this, and your cunning will not end well for you.

The saint answered Licinius:

Mad king, why are you so angry? See for yourself and enlighten the power of your gods? If they were really gods, then why didn’t they help themselves? Why didn’t they get angry with me when I broke them, and didn’t send fire from heaven in order to burn me? But they are soulless and powerless things that are just as easily dissected by the human hand as gold and silver. You, the king, are angry and indignant, but your madness is ridiculous to me. You get angry and rage, but I take courage and do not pay attention to your rage. You grieve, and I rejoice in the destruction of your gods. You persist in the Lord, and I bless Him. You blaspheme the true God, and I praise him in chants. You worship the dead gods, and I worship the Living God. You serve the nasty Serapis 9, and I serve the most pure and honest Lord of Christ, who sits on the purest Seraphim. You honor the vile Apollo 10, but I honor God who lives forever. You are the coal of Thrace 11, I am the prince of Rome; - you are Licinius - a saint, but I Theodore - is a gift of God 12. So king, do not be angry and do not be angry; in doing so, you only manifest your inner torment and become like a donkey or some mule.

Then the Licinius king, even more angry, ordered to spread the saint crosswise naked and beat him severely with raw oxen veins.

And the soldiers of the holy martyr beat without mercy, changing among themselves, so that he was beaten by three or four soldiers each, and at that time, St. Theodore was given six hundred blows to the back and five hundred to the womb.

King Licinius mocked him, saying:

Theodore, be patient a little, until Christ your God comes to you, who will free you from the hands of the tormentor.

The saint answered:

Do with me what you want, and do not stop: for neither sorrow, nor crowding, nor wounds, nor sword, nor any other torment will separate me from the love of Christ.

Then the king, inflamed with even greater fury, said:

Do you still confess Christ?

And he again commanded, without mercy, to beat the holy martyr on the back with tin rods, and then plan his body with iron claws and scorch him with burning candles, and rub his wounds with sharp shards.

The saint, bearing all this courageously, said nothing else, as soon as: "Glory to you, my God!" After all these torments, the king ordered that St. Theodore be imprisoned, his legs bound with bundles and not given him food for five days. After five days, he ordered to prepare a cross and crucify the saint on it.

And now, as once Christ our Lord was Pilate, so now St. Theodore was crucified by Licinius on the cross, and his hands and feet were nailed. But the cruel tormentors tried to further increase the suffering and torment of the saint. They drove a sharp and long nail into him and cut his body with razors; the youths and the youths strained their bows and shot at his face, so that the apple of his eye was pierced by arrows.

I, - say the descriptor of his sufferings, - notary 13 Ouar, - seeing all these terrible torments and as if hearing his inner suffering groans, I threw a book into which I wrote all this and, plunging down with weeping at his feet, said:

Thank me, my lord, bless me! tell me thy servant the last word!

My lord, the warrior of Christ Theodore, said to me in a low voice:

Huar, do not give up your service and do not stop looking at my suffering; describe them, describe my demise and mark her day.

Then, crying to the Lord, the saint said:

Lord, You told me before: I am with you. Why now have you left me? Look, Lord, how the wild beasts tormented me because of you all: the pupils of my eyes are broken, my body is crushed from wounds, my face is hardened, my teeth are broken; bare bones alone hang on the cross; remember me, Lord, enduring the cross for Your sake: because of You I have borne both iron, and fire, and nails; now receive my spirit, for I am already departing from this life.

Indeed, the whole body of Theodore was tormented.

Licinius, thinking that the martyr had passed away, left him hanging on the cross. But now, in the first night watch, the Angel of the Lord removed the holy martyr from the cross and made him whole and sound, as he was before; greeting him, the angel said to him:

Rejoice and be strengthened by the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, behold, the Lord is with you; why did you say that he left you? So, complete your feat to the end, and you will come to the Lord to receive the crown of immortality prepared for you.

Having said this to the holy martyr, the Angel became invisible. After this, the holy martyr Theodore, thanks to God, began to chant like this: "I will exalt thee, my God, the king [mine], and bless your name forever and ever"   (Ps. 144: 1).

And the wicked Licinius, even before dawn, sent his two centurions, Antiochus and Patricius, ordering them:

Come and bring me the body of Theodore, who died in suffering: I will put it in a tin box and throw it into the depths of the sea, so that crazy Christians will not take it somehow.

When they went and approached the place where Theodore was crucified, they saw a cross, but there was no martyr crucified on it. And Antiochus said to Patricius:

The truth is told by the Galileans 14 that their Christ rose from the dead. He is, as I think, resurrected and His servant Theodore.

At this time, Patricius, approaching the cross, saw Saint Theodore sitting on the ground and praising the Lord. Then Patricky exclaimed loudly:

Great is the God of Christians, and there is no other god besides Him?

After this, both centurions, approaching the saint, said:

We beseech you, martyr of Christ, receive us, for from this hour we are Christians.

And both of these centurions and seventy soldiers with them believed in Christ that day.

Licinius, learning of this, sent his governor Sixtus and with him three hundred soldiers to kill all those who believed in Christ.

When these soldiers came and saw what miracles the power of Christ was performed by Saint Theodore, they immediately believed in our Lord Jesus Christ. And countless people flocked to this place and everyone cried out:

One is God, the God of Christians, and there is no other god besides Him!

And further:

Who is the tormentor of Licinius? Stone him! for us, there is only one God and king — Christ, preached by Theodore!

And the people rose in noise and rebellion, and even bloodshed began.

A certain warrior named Leander, with a drawn sword, ran to this place and rushed to Theodore, wanting to hit him with a sword. Sixtus, the tsar’s governor, holding him, tore his sword from his hands and cut him open. And another warrior, named Mirpos, a native of Ugrin 15, rushing to the governor of Tsar Sixtus, killed him.

Saint Theodore, wishing to calm the popular rebellion, said aloud:

Stop it, beloved! My Lord Jesus Christ, hanging on the cross, restrained the Angels, so that they would not take revenge on the human race.

After the martyr Theodore spoke to the people in this way, begging and exhorting the people, the noise and public confusion ceased.

At this time, the holy martyr walked past the dungeon, and all the people and soldiers followed him; the prisoners who were in prison were crying out loud to the saint:

Have mercy on us, servant of the Most High God!

With his own word he delivered them from their bonds, opened the prison doors and said to them:

Walk in peace, men, and remember me.

And the whole city gathered, and all were rejected from idolatry and glorified Christ - the One God.

At this time, the sick were healed, but demons were driven out of people. Anyone who touched his holy hand, or who even touched his clothes, he immediately received healing.

Then one of the close associates of Licinius, seeing what was going on, went to him and said:

The whole city, leaving the gods, according to the doctrine and sorcery of Theodore, believed in Christ.

The king, filled with rage, immediately sent the warrior to decapitate Saint Theodore. The people, seeing this warrior, again made a fuss and rebellion: having rebelled against Licinius, they wanted to kill his servant. Then the saint began to exhort the people to abandon this intention. He said:

Brotherhood and fathers! Do not rebel against Licinius: he is the servant of the father of his devil, and now it is fitting for me to depart to my Lord Jesus Christ.

Having said this, he began to pray to God and after a rather lengthy prayer, he blessed the people.

Then, commemorating himself with the sign of the cross, he said to his servant Huar:

My child, Ouar, take care to describe the day of my death, and my body is buried in Euchitas, in the estate of my parents; when you will approach death, bequeath to bury yourself on my left side.

Then the martyr of Christ prayed again and, finally, uttering the word: “Amen,” he bowed his honest and holy head under the sword and was truncated.

This happened on the 8th day of the month of February, on Saturday, at the third hour of the day 16.

By truncating, the whole nation rendered the martyr a great honor: taking candles and a censer, the Christians laid his body in a deliberate place, and then on June 8 it was transferred with great triumph to Euchaites, and countless miracles were performed there, in the glory of Christ God, Father and the Holy Spirit, honor and worship forever. Amen.

Troparion, voice 4:

With the warriorism of true passion-tolerance, the heavenly King Voivode, the foremost was Thou Theodore: with the arms of faith, he took up arms with sophistication, and defeated thou of the demons of the regiment, and the victorious one was the sufferer. The same the faith faithfully appease.

Condac, voice 2:

By courage of the soul you believe in faith, and the verb of God is like a spear in your hand, the enemy was defeated by thou, the martyrs of the prelude of Theodore. With them, praying to God Christ do not get upset about us all.

________________________________________________________________________

1 Licinius - Roman emperor in the eastern half of the empire, reigned from 307-324.

3 Hercules - a city in Ponte, the northern part of Asia Minor.

4 Euchites - a city in the north of Asia Minor, near Heraclea, now - Marsivan.

5 From the Greek word "rhetor" - an orator, vitia and "lie" - an indivisible syllable that enhances the meaning of the word connected with it.

7 Hercules or Hercules - a hero of ancient Greek traditions, personifying the physical strength of man and subsequently revered by the ancient Greeks, as one of the favorite gods. Dius or Zeus was revered by the ancient Greeks as the father of gods and people, who controls heaven and earth, sending thunder and lightning to earth. Alkmena, according to Greek myths, is a mortal woman who conceived and gave birth to Zeus Heracles.

8 Artemis or Diana, according to the beliefs of the ancient Greeks, was the goddess of the moon and hunting.

9 Serapis is the Egyptian god of the souls of the dead, who was called as a savior from illness and death. Subsequently, his veneration also passed to Greece and Rome, where it became very widespread.

10 Apollo is the Greco-Roman god of the sun and mental enlightenment.

11 The nickname of Licinius, alluding to its low origin from Thrace.

12 Licinius, translated from Latin, means a sower; Theodore - from the Greek God's gift.

13 The notary is a painter. At first, according to R. Chr. thus, the imperial secretaries who held the acts together were usually called.

14 Thus, with pity, the Gentiles called Christians, believing Christ to come from Galilee, a country which, among the Jews, enjoyed notoriety.

15 Ugrins are called Slavs originating from Ugric land or Chervonnaya Rus, now western Ukraine.

16 St. Theodore was truncated with a sword in 319.

The Holy Great Martyr Theodore Stratilates is revered as the patron saint of the Orthodox army.

Biography

The scientific approach to life

In ancient Russian literature there are three versions of the life of Theodore Stratilates, which experts call the "short", "full" and "Slavic version".

These three lives are translated from Greek and are the Martian life.

In ancient Russian manuscripts, this work was most often called "The Torment of St. Theodore Stratilates" and began with the words:

A short version of the life tells of the torture the saint suffered on the orders of King Licinius. It describes the events of the martyrdom of Theodore, while the saint dies on the cross, and the angel resurrects him.

In the full version of the life, the text coincides with the short version almost literally, but after describing the virtues of Fedor, this option includes an episode of a meeting with Christian Eustathia and a victory over the monstrous serpent.

After describing this event, the text of the short version of the life continues from the moment the ambassadors sent by Licinius arrived.

These two versions of life are a translation of Greek originals, of which there were also two, and they also differed in the mentioned episode. These versions of the text have been preserved and are stored in the Vatican Apostolic Library (full - No. 1993, short - No. 1245).

The first list in Slavic is a short version, which is included in Zlatoust Yagich, dating from the beginning of the XIV century.

But in the general handwritten tradition, the full version of the legend is much more common, which begins like this:

The third version is a translation of the Greek text of the life, which was included in the collection of Damascene Studite "Treasures" (Greek ????????) of the XVI century, translated by Arseny Grek.

Apparently, this text was copied into the collection of A. I. Anisimov, who called it the “Slavic version”. Later, in 1715, this work of Damaskin Studit was completely translated by Theodore Gerasimov Poletaev.

In this work, the name of the life looks like this: “The torment of the holy glorious great martyr Theodore Stratelates, presented in a common language by the last monk Damascene, subdeacon and Studite,” which begins with the words:

The combination and translation of these versions were performed by Dmitry Rostovsky, whose works were published in 1689-1705 and were recognized as the most successful.

This book has recently been reprinted once a decade, the last reprint was in 1998 (Volume 7 - February).

The translation of Greek texts itself often led to confusion of texts in some translations, which was a problem not only for Slavic translators. The problem was the proximity of St. Theodore - Tyrone and Stratilates - they were both revered by Christian warriors, lived in the same locality at the same time, each defeated their serpent, were the patrons of the army of the Byzantine Empire.

In addition, the texts of the lives of the mentioned saints are read not far from each other: firstly, the celebration of the memory of the saints was not far off on the calendar, some of the Little Menaumas are composed so that the stories about the saints go one after another. Therefore, when reading the lives of saints at home, in the view of the reader (scribe, translator), these stories were intertwined and there are errors in correspondence and translation. Secondly, while reading "Chrysostom" these lives are read side by side and listeners can be perceived as a whole.

In some cultures, the features of saints penetrate each other, scholars give an example of the Georgian translation, in which there is one martyr, and his name is “Theodore Stratilon”. The snaking of Theodore Stratilon is described according to the life of Theodore Stratilates, and the torment and death of the character coincide with the Greek text of the life of Theodore Tiron. There are texts of Chrysostom in which Theodore Tyrone is called "Stratiot." There are also apocryphal texts in which the military rank of stratig is attributed to Tyrone, which is a mismatch ("Tyrone" is translated as a rookie).

An additional confusion is caused by folk signs on the day of Fedor Stratilat - according to the life of Theodore Tiron, it was he, and not Theodore Stratilat, who was struck by a snake that guards a drinking spring.

Scientific studies of the life of the saint share this mistake, the academic publication of the History of Russian Literature in 1941 contains the text:

This is a mistake, since Tyrone saves his mother, and Eusebius warns Stratilates. Also in scientific research there is confusion with the dates of memory of saints and texts of readings these days.

Troparion, voice 4:

The realm of truth, passionate,
  Heavenly King Voivode the forerunner was thou, Theodore;
  With arms of faith, he took up arms with wisdom,
  And he defeated the demons of the regiment,
  And the victorious was the sufferer.
  Same by faith
  We indulge

Condac, voice 2:

Courage soul to faith
  And the verb of God, like a spear, take in hand,
  The enemy defeated the Yesi, the martyrs of the Prelaces of Theodore,
  With them, praying to God Christ do not get upset about us all.

Magnification

We increase the cha
  passionately St. Theodore,
  And honor your honest misery
  even for Christ did he endure.

Moreover, almost all Byzantine and Old Russian images of saints depict them so that the differences between them become obvious. The hagiographic icon of Theodore Stratilates, which is stored in the Novgorod Museum, depicts both saints.

A. I. Anisimov expressed the following opinion on this issue:

Events of the life of the saint

According to the life, Theodore was a talented, brave and handsome young man. The events that glorified Theodore occurred in the reign of the emperor Licinius. During this period, there was extensive persecution of Christians, but the emperor, seeing that most of them were happy to die for their faith, first began to persecute high-ranking Christians. Theodore shared the fate of the Forty Sebastian Martyrs and other martyrs from among the emperor's entourage.

Theodore was born in the city of Euchit (Asia Minor) and served in the imperial army. The fame of his military prowess spread after he killed a serpent who lived near Euchaith. According to legend, this snake lived in failure in a deserted field, which was located north of the city. Once a day, he got out of there and at that moment any beast or person could become his victim. Satiated, he returned to his lair.

Theodore, notifying anyone of his intentions, decided to rid the city of this monster and opposed it with its usual weapons. Arriving on the field, he wanted to rest in the grass, but he was awakened by an elderly Christian Eusebius. Eusebius, in whose house the relics of Theodore Tyrone were buried, warned him of danger. Theodore prayed, mounted his horse, and summoned the snake to battle. After the Serpent crawled out of the underground shelter, Theodore's horse jumped up with his hooves and the rider hit him.

The inhabitants of the city, who saw the serpentine body, associated the feat with the faith of Theodore and marveled at the power of Christianity. After that, he was appointed commander (stratilate) in the city of Heracles, where he actively preached Christianity. Most of the citizens were converted by him to the Christian faith. This was reported to the emperor Licinius, who sent dignitaries after him, who invited Theodore to his place. In response, Theodore invited the emperor to Heracles, promising to arrange there a magnificent sacrifice to the pagan gods.

For this purpose, the emperor with eight thousand soldiers arrived in the city, many gold and silver statues of the Hellenic gods were brought. Theodore asked to take them for the night for personal sacrifice, promising the next morning to bow to the gods in public. At night, he broke the statues of the gods, and distributed parts to the poor. The next morning, the imperial centurion Maxentius discovered Theodore's deception to the emperor:

The emperor was shocked, and Theodore Stratilates explained his actions by faith in Christ and disbelief in pagan gods. In the process of dialogue, Theodore proved to Lycinus the truth of his faith and the wrong beliefs of the emperor. The emperor was insulted and ordered to execute the rebellious military leader. After this, the saint was tortured for many days, he was carved, burned with fire and torn with iron claws. Then Theodore was imprisoned and starved for five days, then blinded and crucified. According to legend, thanks to God's intercession at night, the angel came to Theodore and the warrior became unharmed.

As a result of this miracle, the whole city believed in Christ and the inhabitants tried to stand up for their stratilate. Stratilates preached stopped the feud, according to legend, he freed prisoners, healed the sick.

After that, Theodore gave the last orders on various issues, including the place of his burial. After additional prayer, he voluntarily went to execution. He was truncated with a sword on February 8, 319. His body, according to his last will, was buried in his hometown of Euchaite, where he was transferred on June 8.

The biography of Theodore Stratilates was recorded by his servant and scribe Ouar, who was an eyewitness to the events and the executor of his last will.

Mention of the saint

There are legends about the miracles associated with Theodore Stratilates.

Syria Damascus Anastasius Sinait John Damaskin Svyatoslav Igorevich

Iconography of Theodore Stratelates

Theodore Stratilat is depicted in plate armor, most often in his right hand he holds a spear that is depicted vertically (unlike Theodore Tyrone, whose spear is placed on the diagonal of the picture). Also, icons often depict a shield (mainly round), Russian icon painters later began to write a shield from the times of Dmitry Donskoy. In addition, there are icons on which Theodore Stratilates holds a cross. Significantly less common are icons on which the sword is depicted in the hands of a saint. Icons are much less common, on which Theodore is depicted sitting on a horse. This is mainly an Eastern tradition, there are some features of icon painting - on the horse of Theodore a small Saracen is depicted, as well as on the icons of St. George the Victorious. This Saracen is the embodiment of those Arabs who are at one with the saint. The suit of the horse under Saint Theodore is depicted on the Coptic icons as white, sometimes as a mule or a nightingale.

Theodore Ivanovich Irina Feodorovna Godunova

1. The temple icon of the Feodorovsky Cathedral of the Feodorovsky Monastery.
2. The temple icon of the church of Theodore Stratilates on the Stream of the second quarter of the XVI century.
3. Icon of Kalbensteinberg
4. Pskov or Novgorod icon of unknown origin in the third quarter of the XVI century, stored in the State Russian Museum
5. The temple icon of the Fedorovsky side chapel of the Church of St. John Climacus of the Kirillo-Belozersky Monastery, made around 1572.

It is believed that for the icons that are in the Russian Museum (No. 4, 5) the prototype was the icon of the Theodorovsky Monastery.

The memory of Theodore Stratilates

There are streets, settlements that bear the name of the saint. Special veneration of St. Theodore in the city of Kostroma, which was restored in 1239 by Yaroslav Vsevolodovich. Then he put in the center of the city the wooden church of Theodore Stratilates.

There are a certain number of monasteries and churches that are set up in honor of Theodore Stratilates, there are also churches in which a particle of the relics of the saint is stored.

At the beginning of the 4th century, a Christian named Theodore lived under the emperors Constantine and Licinius. He came from the city of Euchite and was pious, brave and handsome. A terrible serpent devastated the vicinity of Euchit, devouring people and animals. No one dared to approach the abyss in which the serpent lived, but young Theodore, armed with a sword and prayer to the Lord, killed the monster.

Since that time, the glory of Theodore has especially increased. For courage, he was appointed commander (stratilate) and city governor of the city of Heracles at the Black Sea. Theodore wisely ruled the city entrusted to him and, professing the Christian faith, zealously promoted its dissemination. Soon, almost all of Hercules adopted Christianity.

At this time, imp. Licinius began the brutal persecution of Christians and called Theodore to his Nicomedia. Not afraid to die for faith, Theodore wanted to accept martyrdom in his city. He begged Licinius to come to Heracles, promising him to make a magnificent sacrifice to the pagan gods. Licinia agreed. He arrived in Heracles with his retinue and brought with him the golden and silver statues of the gods. Persuading the emperor to postpone the sacrifice, Theodore took possession of idols. That night, he broke them into small pieces, which he distributed to the poor, thereby shaming the vain faith in soulless idols. The emperor was immediately informed of the incident, and he called on Theodore to explain. Theodore confirmed the truth of what was reported about him and openly confessed himself a Christian. Licinius, furious with anger, ordered the Theodore to be cruelly tortured. The saint was beaten with oxen and tin rods, pierced the body with nails, burned with fire. He endured all the tortures with unshakable patience, repeating: “Glory to you, our God!” After the torture of Theodore, they were kept in prison for several days without food, and then crucified on the cross. By His great mercy, God did not leave the saint: at night, the Angel of the Lord appeared to the sufferer, removed him from the cross and healed the wounds.

In the morning, two centurions came to the cross who wanted to throw the body of the saint into the sea so that it would not go to the Christians who reverently revere the remains of the dead for Christ. With amazement and fear, they saw that St. Theodore sits unharmed at the foot of the cross and loudly glorifies the name of the Lord. Struck by a wonderful spectacle, both the centurion, and after them the rest of the soldiers believed in Christ. A lot of people gathered around them, who reproached Licinius with anger. But sv. Theodore pacified the excitement and preached humility and meekness, pointing to the example of Christ, who, in the midst of suffering, prayed for His tormentors. After praying, the saint put himself in the hands of the executioner and calmly bowed his head under the sword. This happened on February 8/21, 319.

Since ancient times, St. Theodore Stratilates has been revered as the patron saint of warriors.

Text from a book
"On the life of Orthodox saints, icons and holidays"
(according to Church tradition).
   Compiled by O.A. Popova.

Icon: fresco of the beginning of the XIV century in the temple of Protat (Greece, Athos, Kareya).

St. Theodore Stratilat (+ in 319)   - a great martyr. St. Theodore was born at the end of the 3rd century after Christmas in the village of Euchita (now the town of Mesitesya, Turkey), not far (55 kilometers, a day's walk) from the city of Amasia, in the Roman province of Pont, Asia Minor. The Byzantine church writer of the second half of the 9th century, Nikita Paflagonets, in his work "Praise to St. Theodore" calls Theodore Stratelates the nephew of St. Theodore of Tyrone. If this statement is true, then St. Theodore Stratilates was the nephew of St. the martyrs Eutropius and Cleonica (as assumed, the half brothers of St. Theodore of Tyrone by mother) and the cousin (or siblings) of the Holy Martyr Basilisk of Comans (his memory is committed on March 3 and May 22, old). The nickname Stratilates (Greek στρατηλατον) means a military leader, voivode (literally a high warrior) and indicates his belonging to the command structure of the Roman army.

Saint Theodore was endowed by the Lord with many gifts. He was distinguished among those around by natural beauty, a generous heart, a deep knowledge of Christian truths, wisdom and eloquence - “young in body, old with the meaning of his God-loving act” as the author of the Life of St. Theodore put it.

The courage of St. Theodore Stratilates became widely known after he, like his elder relative St. Theodore Tyrone, defeated the huge terrible serpent that lived in the abyss in the vicinity of Euchaiton. This snake was huge and scary. As he walked, the earth shook beneath him. The monster devoured many people and animals, keeping the whole district in fear. Saint Theodore, without saying anything to anyone, taking his usual weapons with him and having a cross on his chest, set off on his journey. Having reached a clearing with lush grass, located near the abyss where the serpent lived, the warrior of Christ allowed his horse to graze, and lay down to rest. In these places there lived a certain pious wife by the name of Eusebius, admired by the years (some ancient lives of St. Theodore Tyrone called Eusebius the mother of Theodore Tyrone. According to the apocryphal Life of St. Theodore Tyrone, he saved his mother, abducted in the underworld by the dragon). A few years before this (or rather, in 306), she asked the executioners for the body of the holy martyr Theodore Tiron, who had not burned down at the stake during the execution, buried him near her house and every year celebrated his memory on the day of the end of February 17 (March 2 new style). Eusebius, seeing the sleeping warrior of Christ Theodore Stratelates, woke him and tried to convince him to leave these places so as not to suffer from a snake. The courageous warrior of Christ Theodore answered her: "Get away and stand far from this place, and you will see the power of my Christ." The woman departed and began to pray to the Savior for the granting of victory to a brave warrior. St. Theodore also prayed to the Lord: “Lord Jesus Christ, who shone from the Father's Being, helped me in battles and gave me victory in the resistance, You are now the same Lord Christ God, send me victory from the height of Your saint.” St. Theodore defeated the monster, glorifying the name of Christ among people. Then, according to the Life, he addressed with words of support to his faithful horse as a man, convincing him of the omnipotence of God:

We know that God's power and strength exists in everyone, both in people and in cattle, so help me, with the help of Christ, may I overcome the enemy.

When the serpent appeared, Theodore's horse began to trample it with his hooves, and then the monster found its death from the weapon of the saint. Glorified by the inhabitants of Euchitot, grateful for their salvation, St. Theodore returned to the army.

For his exploits, St. Theodore was appointed ruler of the city of Heracles (in the north of Asia Minor, founded according to tradition by Heracles himself, now it is Ergil, Zonguldak province, Turkey). Here St. Theodore combined responsible military service with the apostolic preaching of the gospel among the pagans subordinate to him. His ardent faith, backed by a personal Christian example, averted many from addictions. As a result, almost all the inhabitants of Heracles adopted Christianity.

At that time, the eastern part of the Roman Empire was ruled by a pagan emperor Licinius (reign years 308 - 324). Initially, he tolerated the faith of Christ. Together with St. Equal-to-the-Apostles Constantine I the Great, Licinius was a co-author of the Edict of Milan (313), which granted Christians freedom of religion. But later he erected in his lands persecution of the followers of Christ, suspecting them of sympathy for his rival - St. Constantine. These persecutions were not inferior in cruelty to the persecutions of the emperor Diocletian:

« First of all, he drove out all the Christians from his palace, and so unhappy, he himself deprived them of prayers before God, which, according to the custom and teaching of their ancestors, they offer for all. Then he ordered that he be dismissed from service in every city and deprived of the rank of all soldiers who would not make sacrifices to demons. ... Having reached the limit of madness, he rushed to the bishops, seeing in them, ministers of all sorts of God, opponents of their activities. He acted out of fear of Konstantin not openly, but secretly and cunningly and destroyed the most famous with his machinations. The method of killing was amazing, hitherto unheard of. What was done in Amasia and other cities of Pontus surpassed the most extreme cruelty. There, some churches were destroyed to the ground, while others were locked so that their regular visitors could not gather and perform the service of God ... The flatterers from among his deputies, wanting to please the wicked, subjected the bishops to such punishments that only villains deserve and innocent husbands without any investigation taken into custody and punished as murderers. The end of some of them was hitherto unprecedented: their bodies were cut with a sword into many parts, and after such a barbaric spectacle they were thrown into the deep sea for fish to eat. After this, the flight of pious people began again, and again the servants of Christ sheltered the fields, and again deserts, forests and mountains". (Eusebius Pamphilus “Church History”).

Knowing the great authority that St. Theodore enjoyed among the inhabitants of his city, the emperor sent his ambassadors to him, inviting him to him. Licinius hoped to persuade St. Theodore to sacrifice to idols and thereby set an example to his subordinates. But Theodore released the imperial ambassadors with honors and invited Licinius to himself. When he arrived in Hercules, St. Theodore feignedly agreed to fulfill the imperial command and asked to bring the imperial golden idols to his home, promising that he would honor them and propitiate them at home, and then bow to them with all the people. Licinius agreed. However, at night St. Theodore broke the boobs into pieces, and distributed the gold to the poor. Centurion Maxcell informed the emperor that he saw the beggars in hands of Aphrodite and they mocked the "goddess."

The angry Licinius summoned Theodore. Having come to the tyrant, the saint confessed his deed and openly confessed the faith of Christ. For this, Theodore was subjected to the most brutal and sophisticated torture. The tormentors beat him with oxen and tin rods, tormented his body with nails and burned him with fire. The holy martyr endured all this with great patience and only repeated: "Glory to you, our God!" The notary (painter) of St. Theodore Avgar (according to other sources his name was Ouar) barely found the strength to describe the torment of his master. After this, the saint was thrown into prison, and was kept there for five days without food and water, and then the tormented saint was nailed to the cross and his eyes gouged out. Suffering with both body and spirit, the sufferer exclaimed: “Lord, Lord, You have predicted to me that You are with me, why have you left me now? Now it's time for help! Help me, because I suffer all this suffering for Your sake and endure such torment out of love for You. Strengthen me, Lord, or take my soul, for I can no longer endure. " Having said this, the martyr fell silent. From this silence, the tormentor Licinius concluded that the saint had died and, having given the command to leave the body on the cross until morning, left the place of execution. At midnight the angel appeared, removed the body of the saint from the cross, kissed him and said:

“Rejoice, Theodore, warrior of Christ! Dare and be strengthened in the name of Christ, the True God, He is with you. And why did you say that He left you? Finish your feat and come to the Lord to take the crown prepared for you.”

Having said this, the angel became invisible, and the saint began to praise and thank God. The soldiers of Licinius, sent by the king behind the body of the martyr, were found alive and perfectly healthy, sitting at the cross and praising God. Seeing this miracle, many soldiers believed in Christ and immediately received baptism, many of them subsequently suffered for Jesus. In the city, however, an uprising began against Licinius - the inhabitants demanded the release of St. Theodore. But the great martyr, not wanting to avoid martyrdom, again voluntarily surrendered himself to the hands of the tormentors. He restrained the rebels with the words: “Stop beloved! My Lord Jesus Christ, hanging on the cross, restrained the Angels, so that they would not take revenge on the family. ” Asking Avgar to describe his last minutes of his life, the saint went to execution, and before that with his prayer word he opened the prison doors, freeing the prisoners from their bonds. At this time, the sick were healed, but demons were driven out of people. Whoever theodore touched with his holy hand, or who even touched his clothes, he immediately received healing.
St. Theodore was truncated with a sword on February 8, 319, on Saturday, at three in the afternoon.

Soon after the martyrdom of St. Theodore, the wicked Licinius paid for his atrocities against the servants of Christ. He suffered a crushing defeat from the troops of Constantine the Great, was captured, was exiled to Thessaloniki, and executed in 324.

The people showed great honors to the holy remains of the martyr. On June 8 (21 in a new style), on June 319, they were solemnly transferred to the saint’s homeland in Euchit. During the transfer of the body of Theodore and already in the city itself, numerous miracles were performed for the glory of Christ. The relics of St. Theodore (probably in the 10-11th centuries) were transferred to Constantinople.

During his pilgrimage to the capital of the Byzantine Empire, the Russian pilgrim Anthony Novgorodets saw the relics of St. Theodore in Vlachernae: “And at Lachern in church bells, St. Theodore Stratilates lies, and his shield and sword are right there.” Nowadays, particles of the relics of the saint are found in various churches in the East and in the West. Part of the relics (probably after the capture of Constantinople by the crusaders in 1204) ended up in Venice.

The relics of St. Theodore Stratilates in the Church of Christ the Savior in Venice .

The honest head of the great martyr is on Athos in the monastery of Pantocrator. The left hand of St. Theodore is in the Greek monastery Mega Spileon in the Peloponesse.
Reliquaries with particles of relics of St. Theodore Stratilates were extended to Holy Russia. One of them was kept in the sacristy of St. Sophia Cathedral in Novgorod, and in Moscow particles of relics were in the Shaped Chamber and the sacristy of the Annunciation Cathedral of the Moscow Kremlin.

The right hand of St. Theodore Tiron and the left hand of St. Theodore Stratilates. Monastery Mega Spileon. Peloponnese.

Presumably in 1586, part of the head of the great martyr was brought to Moscow from Athos. For this shrine in 1598, probably at the behest of Tsar Boris Feodorovich Godunov, an ark was made. On the cover of the silver ark, an image of a saint in the type of a martyr is made - in military armor, with a cross and a sword in his hands. In 1587, another particle of the relics of Theodore Stratilates was delivered to Moscow from Athos, from the Zograf Monastery.

After his death, St. Theodore Stratilates was glorified by numerous miracles - through prayers to him, from icons with his image. Saint Anastasius of Sinai, Patriarch of Antioch (599) and Saint John of Damascus (circa 780) mention the miracle that occurred in the temple of Theodore Stratilates near Damascus in the town of Karsat in Syria. When these places were captured by the Saracens, the temple was ravaged and was subsequently desecrated. Saracens settled in the building. Once, one of them, taking a bow, fired an arrow at the image of St. Theodore painted on the wall with paints. The arrow hit the saint's right shoulder, and immediately a stream of living blood flowed down the wall. The wicked were surprised at this, but they did not leave the temple. In total, about twenty families lived in the church. After some time, they all died for an unknown reason. Pestilence attacked the patriarchs, while their fellow tribesmen who lived outside the church did not suffer.
However, for some reason, the cult of St. Theodore in the first five centuries after his martyrdom was not widespread in the Roman (Byzantine) empire. The name of the Holy Great Martyr began to appear frequently in the writings of Byzantine hagiographers (for example, the aforementioned Nikita Paflagonets) from the 9th century. Then the formation of the cult of St. Theodore takes place, which has absorbed many features of the cult of St. Theodore of Tyrone, the alleged uncle of St. Theodore Stratilates.

The widespread glorification of St. Theodore begins in the second half of the 10th century, after one of the greatest miracles performed by the Lord through the prayers of the great martyr. According to the “History” of the Byzantine chronicler John Skilitsa and the “History” of the pen of Leo Deacon Kaloysky, the miraculous intercession of St. Theodore Stratilates helped the Orthodox Emperor John Tzimiskes (reigned in 969–976) in the battle with the pagans - the Russians led by the Prince of Kiev. Svyatoslav in the battle of the city of Dorostol on July 21, 971. Here is how the miracle Leo the Deacon describes:

« So, the Russians ... with a loud and wild cry rushed at the Romans, koi, frightened by their unusual desire, began to retreat. The emperor, having seen the retreat of the army, fearing that, from fear to an extreme attack of enemies, it would not be in extreme danger, with a spear in his hand, bravely went against them with his detachment. The trumpets thundered and the tambourines sounded to battle. The Romans, following the Emperor's desire, turned their horses and quickly set off on the enemies. Suddenly, a storm that sprang up in the air and rain upset the Russians: for the rising dust harmed their eyes. Then, they say, a certain warrior appeared on the white horse before the Romans and encouraged them to go to the enemies: he miraculously dissected and disordered their ranks. No one saw him in the camp either before or after the battle. The Emperor, wanting to adequately reward him and express his due gratitude for his exploits, everywhere looked for him, but could not find anywhere. After that, the widespread opinion was that he was the great martyr Theodore, whom the Tsar prayed to be his assistant in battles, to protect and preserve himself along with the army. They also say that in accordance with this miracle happened in Byzantium, the following evening, on the eve of the battle: one girl, who dedicated herself to God, saw in a dream the Mother of God telling the fiery warriors who accompanied her: "Call me the martyr Theodore" - and they immediately brought the brave armed youth. Then she told him: “Theodore! Your John, at war with the Scythians, in extreme circumstances; hurry to help him. If you are late, he will be in danger. ” To this he replied: “I am ready to obey the Mother of the Lord my God,” and he immediately left. Together with this, the dream also departed from the virgins of the virgin. Thus her dream came true. The Romans followed the divine leader and entered into battle with the enemies. As soon as a strong battle began, the Scythians, surrounded by Magister Sklir, unable to withstand the aspirations of the equestrian phalanx, fled, and, pursued to the very wall, fell ingloriously dead in place».

The Byzantine author, John Skilica, mistakenly reports that the day of the battle, July 21, was a day of remembrance of St. Theodore Stratilates. In fact, on this day, according to the Sinaxar, the memory of the martyrs Theodore and George, who are known only by name, was celebrated. Apparently, only after the victory over Svyatoslav did these martyrs turn into holy warriors, who were subsequently dedicated special prayers on this day. In gratitude for the help provided by the Holy Great Martyr, the pious emperor John Tzimiskes rebuilt the church in the name of St. Theodore Stratilates in Euchany (near Euchaiton), to which he transferred his relics, and Euchany, as the Byzantine historian John Skylica tells it, renamed it (Theodoropolis translated from Greek - the city of Theodore). Although archaeological finds of Byzantine seals in Bulgaria in the 20th century indicate that it was there that the city was renamed in honor of the Holy Great Martyr in Theodoropol. In some sources, probably in connection with Theodore Tyrone, the location of this temple is called the Euchites. It should be noted that in Byzantium St. Theodore was revered precisely as a defender against Russian invasions.

Over time, the veneration of St. Theodore Stratelates began to unite with the veneration of his senior contemporary St. Theodore Tyrone. Sinaksari of 10-11 centuries prescribed to perform services in honor of the great martyr in some temples of Constantinople, dedicated to Theodore Tyrone, especially in the church erected by patrician Sphorakius in 452. In 1265, a church dedicated to Theodore Stratilatus and Theodore Tyrone was built in the city of Serra. The second such temple was erected in Constantinople, in the monastery of Cyprianou. According to the vision of Emperor Theodore II Laskaris (reigned in 1255 - 1259), traveling from the city of Sera, both saints Theodore helped him win the city of Melnik from the Bulgarians in 1255. The greatest popularity of the veneration of the two Theodors reached in the 14th century, when the Byzantine writer Theodore Pediasmos compiled a set of miracles of St. Theodore. In late Greek and Balkan iconography, images of both saints sitting on horses and hugging each other as a sign of fraternal affection are known.

St. Theodore Stratilatus was the heavenly patron of the famous Romaic aristocratic family of Gavrasov, whose ancestor was St. Martyr Theodore Gavras, the illustrious military leader who won the Seljuks Trapezund from the Turks. From Gavrasov comes the Russian noble family of the Golovins.

The Holy Great Martyr Theodore Stratilates was widely known and revered in Holy Russia. His image personified military prowess. The veneration of Theodore Stratilates in Russia is more widespread than the veneration of Theodore Tyrone. His name was many Russian princes and kings, many of whom were glorified by the Church in the face of saints: the holy noble grand duke Yaroslav Vsevolodovich (father of St. Alexander Nevsky), the holy noble prince of Smolensk and Yaroslavl Theodore Rostislavich Cherny, the holy noble tsar of Moscow and all Russia Fode Ioannovich, Tsar Theodor Borisovich Godunov, Tsar Theodor Alekseevich Romanov. The name of St. Theodore was also popular among the common people - until 1917 it was rarely possible to meet a family in Russia, in which there would be no man named Fedor.

Temples dedicated to St. Theodore were often erected in Holy Russia, of which the most famous is the church of St. Theodore on a stream in Veliky Novgorod (built around 1361). The holy noble Tsar John the Terrible in honor of the birth of his son Theodore built a cathedral church at the Feodorovsky Monastery in Pereslavl - Zalessky. Temples in the name of St. Theodore Stratilates existed in many Russian cities: Moscow (architect I.V. Egotov, 1782 - 1806); Alexandrov (gate church of the 18-19 centuries in the Holy Assumption Monastery), etc.

The name of St. Theodore Stratilates is associated with the history of the great Orthodox shrine - Theodore Icon of the Mother of God, a family heirloom of the Romanov dynasty.