Saint Theodore of Tirone
Date of celebration: 17/02
Saint Theodore of Tirone came from the village of Amasia on the Black Sea, called Humiala, and lived during the times of the emperors Maximian (286 – 305 AD), Galerius (305 – 311 AD) and Maximinus (305 – 312 AD). It is called Tiron, because it was classified in the army of the Tirons, i.e. the recruits, commanded by the prefect Vrygas.
He was presented to the prefect as a Christian and summoned for examination. There he confessed his faith in Christ without hesitation. The commander Vrigas did not want to proceed with the arrest and punishment of Agios Theodoros, but left him to think and answer him a little later. He believed that Theodore would change and sacrifice to idols. The Great Martyr not only remained steadfast in his faith, but he also burned the temple of the mother of the gods Rhea after her idol. Immediately then he was arrested and thrown by the pagans into a red-hot furnace, where he was martyred.
The Synaxis of the Holy Great Martyr Theodore of Tiron was held at his most holy Martyrdom, which was located in the area of Foraki or Sforaki, on Saturday of the 1st week of Lent, i.e. the day on which the Saint performed the miracle of the collyves, saving the Orthodox people from the mingled idols, which he was ignorantly about to eat.
In the Hagiography, Saint Theodore of Tirone appears in four kinds of forms. Either alone in military uniform, or facing a serpent-dragon and together with Saint Theodore the Soldier standing or on horseback. He always wears a military uniform.