Theodore the Tyron
On this day we celebrate the memory of Theodore
the Tyron.
Theodore lived during the reign of kings Maximian and Maximinus
in 297. He came from the metropolis of Amasia (which is a famous
city of Cappadocia at the Black Sea) and specifically from a village
called Choumialon. When Theodore was conscripted into the army
of Tyrons (tyron means "newly recruited soldier") and
was in praepositus Vrigas' battalion, he confessed that Christ
is true God and that the idols of the Greeks are lifeless statues
and human handiworks. So, he was brought in front of the forementioned
praepositus who gave him time for him to think as well as a deadline.
Then the saint accomplished a great deed. He got the idol of Rea
who, as the Greeks believed, was the mother of the gods, and burnt
it completely.
So, he was arrested and confessed that he was the one who burnt
the idol. Therefore, he was executed.