Theodore of Africa

Holy Martyr Theodore of Africa suffered together with the Holy Martyr Terentius and his company, among them Pompius (Publius), Africanus, Maximus, Zeno and Alexander, in the time of the Emperor Decius (249 to 251). The emperor had issued an edict ordering all his subjects to sacrifice to idols.

On receiving the edict, the governor of Africa, Fortunatian, gathered the people in the square, displayed the terrible instruments of torture and announced that all without exception must sacrifice to the idols. Many, afraid of the torments, agreed, but forty Christians led by Terentius courageously declared their loyalty to the Saviour. Fortunatian was astonished at their boldness and asked how they, reasonable men, could confess as God One crucified by the Jews as a criminal. Terentius answered boldly that they believed in the Saviour who willingly endured death on the cross and rose on the third day. Understanding that Terentius was inspiring the others, Fortunatian ordered him shut in prison with his three closest friends, Africanus, Maximus and Pompius. The others, among them Zeno, Alexander and Theodore, he resolved to force to renounce Christ. Neither persuasion nor torments shook the holy martyrs: they were burned with red-⁠hot iron, vinegar was poured on their wounds, the wounds were rubbed with salt, and they were scraped with iron claws. Yet they did not weaken in their confession, and the Lord strengthened them.

Fortunatian ordered them brought to the temple and again demanded that they sacrifice. The soldiers of Christ cried out to God to bring down the idol temple for the sake of His truth. The idols fell with a crash and shattered, and then the whole temple collapsed. The enraged governor ordered them put to death. The martyrs, glorifying God, bowed their heads under the executioner's sword.

After the execution of the thirty-⁠six martyrs, Fortunatian summoned Terentius, Maximus, Africanus and Pompius, showed them the slain and again demanded that they sacrifice. They refused. The governor put heavy chains on them and ordered them starved in prison. In the night an angel of the Lord removed their chains and fed them. In the morning the guards found them alive and full of strength. Fortunatian ordered sorcerers to bring snakes and other creeping things into the prison. The guards looked through an opening in the roof and saw the martyrs praying unharmed, with the snakes crawling at their feet. When the charmers opened the doors, the snakes did not obey the spells and rushed at them, biting. Fortunatian ordered the martyrs beheaded, and the Christians took their holy bodies and buried them with honour outside the city.

Theodore is commemorated on 23 April (new style). Their story was also written down by Saint Demetrius of Rostov.