Claudia of Ancyra

Holy Martyr Claudia of Ancyra (Corinth), a virgin, was one of the seven virgin martyrs Tecusa, Phaina, Claudia, Matrona, Julia, Alexandra and Euphrasia, who suffered in Ancyra of Galatia at the beginning of the fourth century, in the time of Diocletian (284-305). The Azbyka page tells their story together with the holy martyr Theodotus of Ancyra and says nothing particular about Claudia.

Theodotus was an innkeeper, had a guest house and was married, but had risen to great spiritual height: he kept purity, practised restraint, and subdued the flesh to the spirit by fasting and prayer. By his words he brought Jews and pagans to the Christian faith and sinners to repentance, and he had received the gift of healing. In the time of persecution a governor known for cruelty, Theotecnus, was appointed to Ancyra. Many Christians fled, and Theotecnus announced that whoever did not sacrifice to idols would be given to torture and death. Famine came. Theodotus sheltered in his house the Christians left without a roof, fed them, hid them, gave from his own stores to the ruined churches what the Liturgy required, went fearlessly into the prisons to strengthen those unjustly condemned, and buried the bodies of the martyrs in secret. When the churches of Ancyra were closed, the Liturgy was celebrated in his house. Knowing that martyrdom awaited him too, he told the priest Fronto that a martyr's body would soon be brought to a place chosen by them both, and gave him his ring.

At that time the seven virgins received death for Christ, the eldest of whom, Tecusa, was the aunt of Theodotus. They had given themselves to God from youth, had lived in prayer, fasting and good works, and had reached old age. Brought to trial as Christians, they boldly confessed their faith in Christ before Theotecnus and were put to torture, but remained unmoved. Then the governor handed them to shameless young men to be defiled. The saints prayed earnestly, and Tecusa, falling at the feet of the young men, took off her veil and showed them her white hair. The youths were ashamed, wept and went away. The governor then ordered the virgins to take part in the "washing of the idols", like the pagan priestesses, but they again refused. For this they were sentenced to death: each with a heavy stone tied round her neck, all seven virgins were drowned in the lake.

The next night Tecusa appeared in a dream to Theodotus and asked him to take out the bodies and bury them as Christians. Theodotus, with his friend Polychronius and other Christians, set out for the lake, guided by a burning lamp. Before the pagan guards on the shore the holy martyr Sosander appeared; the guards fled in terror, and the wind drove the water to the other side. The Christians took the bodies of the martyrs and buried them beside the church. Learning of it, Theotecnus ordered all Christians seized and tortured, among them Polychronius, who, unable to endure, named Theodotus as the guilty one. Theodotus prepared for death, directed that his body be given to the priest Fronto, stood at the trial, confessed the Lord Jesus Christ and, after long torments, was beheaded. A storm prevented the burning of the body. The priest Fronto, passing along the road with a donkey loaded with wine, saw the donkey fall beside the saint's body and, learning from the soldiers, laid the remains on the donkey and buried them in the place Theodotus had chosen. Later he built a church there.

Saint Theodotus died on 7 June 303 or 304, and his commemoration is kept on 18 May, the day of the virgins' death. The description of his life and martyrdom, and of the passion of the virgins, was composed by Nilus, a contemporary, companion and witness of the death of Theodotus. The page gives Saint Claudia's commemoration on 31 May and on 19 November, in the new style.