From the birth of the Orthodox religion and in subsequent times, there were ascetics whose strength of spirit and faith were stronger than earthly suffering and hardship. The memory of such people will forever remain in the Holy Scriptures, religious traditions and the hearts of millions of believers. Thus, the name of the Holy Great Martyr Theodore Tyron, a selfless fighter against paganism and an ardent zealot of the Christian faith, is forever inscribed in history.
Life
At the beginning of the 4th century, the struggle of the pagans with the preachers of the Gospel was still going on, the persecution was getting tougher. It was during this difficult time, according to Scripture, that Theodore Tyro lived. His life begins with a description of military service (306), which took place in the city of Amasia (north-eastern part of Asia Minor). It is also known that he was born into a noble family. His father held a high position, so their family was respected.
According to the order of the Roman emperor Galerius, a campaign was held in Amasia to convert Christians to the pagan faith. Forcibly, they had to make sacrifices to stone idols. Those who resistedimprisoned, tortured, killed.
When this news reached the legion in which Theodore Tyrone served, the young man openly protested to his commander Vrink. In response, he was given a few days to think. Theodore led them in prayer and did not depart from the faith. As he stepped out into the street, he noticed a tumultuous revival. A convoy with a string of captured Christians passed by him, they were led to the dungeon. It was hard for him to look at this, but he firmly believed in Jesus Christ and hoped for the establishment of the true faith. On the main square of the city, Theodore saw a pagan temple. The crafty priest invited the "dark" people to worship the idols and make sacrifices to them in order to gain all the desired benefits. On the same night, Theodore Tiron set fire to this temple. The next morning, only a pile of logs and broken statues of pagan idols remained from him. Everyone was tormented by the question, why did the ancestral gods not protect themselves?
Tests
The pagans knew who set fire to their temple, and handed over Theodore to the head of the city. He was captured and imprisoned. The mayor ordered that the prisoner be starved to death. But on the very first night, Jesus Christ appeared to him, who strengthened him in faith. After several days of detention, the guards, hoping to see the exhausted and exhausted Theodore Tiron, were surprised at how cheerful and inspired he was.
Later he was subjected to many tortures and torments, but thanks to the invincible strength of mind and prayer, he endured all the suffering and remained alive. Seeing this, the Amasea governor ordered him to be burned at the stake. But this time, too, the great martyr Theodore Tiron sangthanksgiving prayers to Christ. Firmly and adamantly he stood for the holy faith. But in the end, he gave up his breath. However, ancient testimonies say that his body was not touched by fire, which, of course, was a miracle for many and made them believe in the true Lord.
Angel Day
They remember St. Theodore on February 17 (18) according to the old style, and according to the new - March 1 in a leap year, March 2 - in a non-leap year. Also on the first Saturday of Great Lent in Orthodox churches, a thanksgiving celebration is held for the holy Great Martyr. These days, all Fedors celebrate the day of the angel, those who wish order a prayer canon. There are also prayers, troparia, which help believers turn to the saint for help.
Icon
In the iconography, Theodore Tiron is depicted in the military uniform of that time with a spear in his hand. Even after death, he continues to help believers: he strengthens their spirit, keeps peace and understanding in the family, and keeps them from temptations and evil intentions.
There is an apocrypha about the exploits of St. Tyrone, where he appears as a hero-serpent fighter. This legend is a passage, a description of the martyrdom that Theodore Tyrone underwent. His life is only slightly affected at the beginning of the story. The Apocrypha served as a source for the creation of the icon “The Miracle of Theodore Tyron about the Serpent” by Nicephorus Savin (beginning of the 17th century). Its composition, like a mosaic, is made up of several plot points. In the center of the icon is visible the figure of a woman in the tenacious embrace of a winged serpent. On the right is the mother of the great martyr in the well and surroundedasps, and on the left, the king and queen watch Theodore fight with a many-headed serpent. A little lower, the author gives the scene of the release of the martyr's mother from the well and the descent of an angel with a crown for the hero.
Temple
The Orthodox faith does not forget and honors the memory of great martyrdom, creating holy images, sacred places. So, in January 2013 in Moscow (in Khoroshevo-Mnevniki) the temple of Theodore Tyron was consecrated. This is a small wooden church, including a quadrangle under a gable roof with a cupola, a vestibule and an altar. Morning and evening services are held there daily, and liturgy is read on Saturday and Sunday. Citizens and faithful guests of the capital can visit the temple at a convenient time.
Interesting facts
- Tiron is the nickname of Theodore. From Latin, it literally translates as "recruit" and is given to the saint in honor of his military service. Since all the trials that fell to the lot of the great martyr fell on the time when he was a recruit in the legion.
- First, the remains of the great martyr (according to legend, untouched by fire) were buried by a certain Christian Eusebius in Evchaitah (territory of Turkey, not far from Amasya). Then the relics were transported to Constantinople (modern Istanbul). His head is currently in Italy, the city of Gaeta.
- There is a legend about a miracle that St. Theodore Tyrone revealed after his martyrdom. The pagan Roman emperor Julian the Apostate, ruling in 361-363, planned to offend Christians, becauseordered the governor of Constantinople during Lent to sprinkle the food sold in the markets of the city with blood sacrificed to idols. But on the night before the implementation of the plan, Theodore Tiron came to Archbishop Eudoxius in a dream and warned him of the imperial treachery. Then the archbishop commanded the Christians these days to eat only kutya. That is why on the first Saturday of Great Lent they hold a thanksgiving celebration in honor of the saint, treat themselves to kutya and read laudatory prayers.
- In ancient Russia, the first week of fasting was called Fedorov's week. It is also an echo of the memory of the miracle of Theodore Tyrone.
