Holy Great Martyr Theodore Stratelates

Life

This saint is celebrated on February 8, and there his life is described; on June 8 the transfer of his relics from Heraclea to Euchaita is celebrated. For Saint Theodore had so bequeathed at his suffering, to his servant Varus: "My body," he said, "lay in Euchaita on the estate of my ancestors." Saint Anastasius of Sinai recorded this miracle of the icon of Saint Theodore: in the place of Karsata near Damascus there was a church in the name of Saint Theodore Stratelates. When the Saracens conquered Damascus, a group of Saracens with women and children settled in that church. On the wall was a fresco image of Saint Theodore. A Saracen shot an arrow and struck the image of the saint in the face. Suddenly blood flowed from the image. Soon after, that entire group of Saracens perished there in the church. Saint Anastasius says that he personally visited that church, saw the image of the saint on the wall, and the traces of dried blood.