Martyr3rd century

Martyr Theodota at Nicea

3rd century

Also known as Theodota

A wealthy Christian woman of Cappadocia denounced for confessing Christ, who suffered martyrdom at Nicaea under Alexander Severus.

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Life

Theodota was a wealthy Christian woman, a native of Cappadocia, who confessed Christ and was martyred in the city of Nicaea during the reign of the Roman emperor Alexander Severus (222–235).

Denounced to Symblicius, the governor of Cappadocia, she refused to renounce her faith and endured a series of tortures from which, according to the synaxarion, she emerged unharmed, before finally being beheaded at Nicaea. The Church commemorates her on September 17.

Troparion1 hymnReadHide

TroparionTone 4

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

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

Timeline4 momentsReadHide

222–235Reign of Alexander SeverusTheodota, a native of Cappadocia, lives and confesses Christ during the reign of the emperor Alexander Severus, while Symblicius serves as governor of Cappadocia.
3rd centuryDenunciation and trialReported as a wealthy woman confessing Christ, Theodota is summoned by the governor Symblicius and refuses to renounce her faith.
3rd centuryTortures and imprisonmentShe is suspended and raked with iron hooks, then imprisoned; eight days later she is brought out for further tortures, including a red-hot furnace, heated iron plates, and a saw, from which the synaxarion relates she emerged unharmed.
3rd centuryMartyrdom at NicaeaThe governor orders Theodota beheaded in Nicaea; Bishop Sophronius buries her remains.

Contributions & Legacy

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Historical Context

Theodota's martyrdom is set during the reign of Alexander Severus, who ruled as Roman emperor from 222 to 235. Historical sources describe him as broadly tolerant toward Jews and Christians; the Historia Augusta even claims he wished to honor Jesus, though that source is considered untrustworthy.

Despite this relatively benign imperial posture, local governors could and did act against Christians on their own initiative. Theodota's death under the Cappadocian governor Symblicius illustrates how provincial persecution could occur even when the central court was not hostile to the faith.

Martyrdom

According to the synaxarion, Theodota was reported to the governor Symblicius as a rich woman confessing Christ. Summoned and unable to be persuaded to renounce her beliefs, she was ordered to be tortured: officials suspended her and raked her with iron hooks, but she is said to have felt no pain. She was then imprisoned.

Eight days later she was brought out for further tortures, and the synaxarion relates that her body bore only minimal marks from the earlier suffering. When questioned, she answered that the governor's mind was clouded and identified herself plainly as Theodota.

Symblicius ordered her cast into a red-hot furnace; the account relates that flames shot out and scorched bystanders while she remained unharmed, and that pagan priests who later tried to scatter her ashes were themselves burned. Further attempts — placing her on heated iron plates and stretching her while a saw was applied — are said to have left her unharmed. Finally the governor ordered her beheaded at Nicaea.

Relics & Shrines

The synaxarion relates that Bishop Sophronius buried her remains after her martyrdom.

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Sources: OCA Synaxarion (oca.org), Lives of the Saints