Holy Great-Martyr Theodore Tyro

Life

Tyro means recruit. Saint Theodore had just entered the army, in the Marmarite regiment, in the city of Amasea, when persecution of Christians began under Emperors Maximian and Maximinus. Since Theodore did not want to hide that he too was a Christian, he was brought to trial and cast into prison, and the prison was locked and sealed. For the wicked judge wanted to kill Theodore by starvation. In the prison the Lord Christ Himself appeared to Theodore and encouraged His martyr, saying to him: "Fear not, Theodore, I am with thee, take no more earthly food and drink, for thou shalt be in another life, eternal and imperishable, with Me in the heavens." Then a multitude of angels appeared in the prison, and the whole prison was illumined most brightly, and the prison guards saw the angels clothed in white, and were very frightened. Then Saint Theodore was led out, tortured and condemned to death. He was cast into fire, and gave up his holy soul to God Most High. He suffered in the year 306.

From the Hymn of Praise

"Fear not the world, for I have overcome the world!"These are holy words both then and now.This is true balm for all sufferers,Most of all for God's wondrous martyrs.