Philippia of Perge

Holy Martyr Philippia of Perge was the mother of the holy martyr Theodore and suffered with him, with Dioscorus, Socrates and Dionysius, in the time of the emperor Antoninus Pius (138-161), in Perge of Pamphylia.

When handsome and healthy young men were being chosen for the army, the youth Theodore was brought with others to the commander Theodotus. The commander tried to force him to sacrifice to the idols, but the martyr bowed neither to persuasion nor to threats, so he ordered him laid on a red-⁠hot pan and drenched with molten pitch. At once a miracle happened: there was an earthquake, from a crack in the ground a stream of water burst out and put out the fire. Theodore, left unharmed, praised God and urged the commander to try to repeat the wonder with the help of the idols. The commander proposed to the pagan priest Dioscorus that he lie on the pan, calling on Zeus. But Dioscorus answered that he had come to believe in Christ and was ready to throw the idol of Zeus into the fire. He was forced to climb onto the pan; he fell at the feet of Saint Theodore, asking his prayers, then climbed up crying: I thank you, Lord Jesus Christ, that you have numbered me among your servants, receive my soul in peace, and he died, delivered from the torments.

Theodore was tortured further: he was tied to wild horses, which, by the city wall, fell and were smashed, while he remained unharmed. Two soldiers, Socrates and Dionysius, saw a chariot of fire descend from heaven to Theodore, on which the dragged martyr was lifted. They cried out in amazement: Great is the God of the Christians. For this they were seized and, the next day, thrown with Theodore into a red-⁠hot furnace, but a heavenly dew cooled the furnace and the saints remained alive. In the morning the commander sent soldiers to see the bones of those burned; they returned in amazement and told that the three young men were unharmed and that to the martyr Theodore had come his mother, Philippia, who now strengthened them in the struggle.

The commander asked Saint Philippia to save her son by persuading him to sacrifice to the idols, but she answered that, even before her son's birth, it had been revealed to her that he would be crucified for Christ. Hearing this, the commander ordered Theodore crucified and the other martyrs beheaded with the sword. For three days Saint Theodore hung on the cross, lifting prayers to God until his repose. The saints are commemorated on 4 May.