4th century
Great Martyr Theodore Stratelates
A military commander from Euchaita, based at Heraclea Pontica, who was martyred under Emperor Licinius in the early 4th century.
Biography
Theodore came from Euchaita in Asia Minor and served as a military commander (stratelates) at Heraclea Pontica. When Emperor Licinius began persecuting Christians, Theodore gathered the city's gold and silver idols on the pretext of offering sacrifice, then broke them up and gave the precious metal to the poor.
He was arrested, tortured and crucified, yet was found alive the next morning; he was finally beheaded, on 8 February 319. His relics were later transferred to Euchaita, an event the Church commemorates separately on 8 June.