Cloud of Witnesses
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Martyr4th century

Martyr Theodota and her Three Sons

Also known as Theodota of Bithynia and her sons

A Christian widow of Bithynia who raised her three sons in the faith and, refusing to deny Christ, was martyred together with them under Diocletian.

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Commemorated as

The Holy Martyr Theodota of Nicaea and her Three Sons

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Life

Theodota was a Christian widow of Nicaea in Bithynia who, according to the synaxarion, lived during the reign of the emperor Diocletian (284-305). After the death of her husband she devoted herself to a pious life and raised her three sons in the Christian Faith.

The tradition links Theodota closely with Saint Anastasia the Deliverer from Potions, with whom she shared a spiritual friendship. When persecution of Christians broke out, both women were arrested, and Theodota and her three sons were ultimately put to death by fire for refusing to renounce Christ.

She is commemorated as a martyr together with her children, the family forming a single commemoration. Their feast is kept on July 29, and they are also remembered on December 22 alongside Saint Anastasia.

Troparion1 hymnReadHide
TroparionTone 4

Your lamb Theodota, O Jesus,
calls out to You in a loud voice:
I love You, O my bridegroom,
and in seeking You, I endure suffering.
In Baptism I was crucified so that I might reign in You,
and died so that I might live with You.
Accept me as a pure sacrifice,
for I have offered myself in love.
By her prayers save our souls, since You are merciful.

Text used with permission of the Orthodox Church in America (oca.org).

Timeline4 momentsReadHide
  1. 284-305 (reign of Diocletian)Widowhood and Christian upbringingA native of Nicaea in Bithynia, Theodota is widowed and devotes herself to a devout life, raising her three sons in the Christian Faith. The synaxarion records a spiritual friendship between her and Saint Anastasia.
  2. During Diocletian's persecutionArrest and the demand of LeucadiusThe persecution of Christians leads to the arrest of the holy women. A dignitary named Leucadius, drawn by Theodota's beauty, takes her into his household intending to marry her, but she keeps herself in purity and resists his threats and inducements.
  3. During Diocletian's persecutionTrial before the governor NicetasAngered by her steadfastness, Leucadius sends Theodota and her children to the governor Nicetas in Bithynia. Under interrogation her eldest son Evodus confesses that Christians do not fear tortures but fear being forsaken by God, and the boy is beaten before his mother's eyes.
  4. During Diocletian's persecutionMartyrdom by fireWhen the authorities attempt to assault Theodota, the synaxarion relates that an angel of the Lord held back those who approached her. Interpreting this as sorcery, the judge sentences Theodota and her three children to death by fire.

Contributions & Legacy

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Life and Martyrdom

According to the synaxarion, Theodota was a Christian native of the city of Nicaea in Bithynia who lived under the emperor Diocletian. Left a widow, she maintained a pious life and brought up her three sons in the faith, and she is remembered for a spiritual friendship with Saint Anastasia, known as the Deliverer from Potions.

When persecution of Christians arose, the holy women were arrested. A dignitary named Leucadius, attracted by Theodota's beauty, brought her into his home with the intention of marrying her; she, however, kept herself in purity and would not yield to either his threats or his inducements. His anger at her resistance led him to hand Theodota and her children over to the governor Nicetas in Bithynia.

At the interrogation her eldest son, Evodus, openly confessed the faith, declaring that Christians do not fear tortures but rather fear being forsaken by God; for this the boy was beaten brutally in his mother's sight. When officials then attempted to assault Theodota, the account relates that an angel of the Lord restrained all who tried to approach her. Taking this for sorcery, the judge condemned Theodota together with her three children to death by fire.

Commemoration

Theodota and her three sons are commemorated together on July 29 as a single family of martyrs.

They are also remembered on December 22 in connection with Saint Anastasia the Deliverer from Potions, reflecting the friendship recorded between the two women.

In The Daily DoveReported as the news of its day
Companions1 figureShowHide
A spiritual friend of Theodota according to the synaxarion; commemorated December 22, on which day Theodota and her sons are also remembered.
Anastasiathe Deliverer-from-Potions
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Sources: OCA Synaxarion (oca.org), Lives of the Saints