Martyr
Holy Martyr Theodula
February 5 Old CalendarFebruary 18 New Calendar
Life
She suffered for Christ in the time of Diocletian, the impious Roman emperor. During torture, Theodula enlightened one of the torturers, Eladius, and brought him to the Christian faith. When Eladius publicly confessed his faith in Christ, he was beheaded by the sword. Theodula conducted herself very courageously at trial, for which the judge called her mad. To this Theodula said to him: "Mad are you who have forgotten the only true God, and bow down to dead stone." The judge cast her into fierce torments which Theodula heroically endured, and by her heroism in torments amazed many and turned them to Christ. Among them were two distinguished citizens, Macarius and Evagrius. With these two and many others Theodula was cast into a heated furnace where all honorably perished and were deemed worthy of Christ's kingdom.
To this Theodula said to him: "Mad are you who have forgotten the only true God, and bow down to dead stone." The judge cast her into fierce torments which Theodula heroically endured, and by her heroism in torments amazed many and turned them to Christ.
From the Prologue from Ochrid by St. Nikolai Velimirovich, February 5. Translated by Marcian Sakarya, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Also commemorated on February 5
The full reading for February 5 includes the hymn of praise, a reflection, a contemplation and a homily.
Open February 5 in the reader