Tecusa of Ancyra

Holy Martyr Tecusa of Ancyra, a virgin, was the eldest of the seven virgin martyrs of Ancyra in Galatia who died for Christ at the beginning of the fourth century, together with the Holy Martyr Theodotus. Tecusa was the aunt of Theodotus. The seven, Tecusa, Phaina, Claudia, Matrona, Julia, Alexandra and Euphrasia, had given their lives to God from youth, had lived in prayer, fasting and good works, and had all reached old age.

In the persecution of Diocletian (284-305) the governor Theotecnus, known for his cruelty, came to Ancyra. The virgins, brought to trial as Christians, boldly confessed their faith and were tortured, but did not waver. The governor then handed them over to shameless youths to be dishonoured. The saints prayed fervently, and Tecusa took off her veil and showed the youths her grey hair. The youths were ashamed, wept and went away. The governor then ordered them to take part in the "washing of the idols", as the pagan priestesses did, but the virgins again refused and were condemned to death. With a heavy stone tied to the neck of each, all seven were drowned in a lake.

The following night Tecusa appeared in a dream to Theodotus and asked him to bring out their bodies and bury them as Christians. Theodotus went to the lake with his friend Polychronius and other Christians, and a burning lamp lit their way. The guards whom the pagans had set on the shore fled in terror at the appearance of the holy martyr Sosander, and the wind drove the water toward the opposite shore. The Christians took the bodies of the saints to the church, where they were buried. When the governor learned of this, he was enraged and had Christians seized and tortured. Polychronius, unable to bear the torments, named Theodotus as the culprit. Theodotus was tortured for a long time and then beheaded, and the priest Fronto took his body and laid it in the place the saint had chosen, later raising a church there. The account of their sufferings was written by Nilus, a witness of these events.

Saint Tecusa is commemorated on 31 May (18 May, old style) and on 19 November.