Theodore of Rome

Holy Martyr Theodore of Rome is one of the twelve clerics who suffered together with the Holy Hieromartyr Stephen, Pope of Rome, in the year 257, in the time of the Emperor Valerian. His name is not included in the present Menologion of the Russian Church.

Stephen shepherded Rome from 253 to 257 and zealously fought the heresy of Novatus, who taught that those returning from heresy ought not to be received. During the persecution he hid and baptized many pagans, among them the tribune Nemesius, who believed after the pope healed his daughter Lucilla. Nemesius, made deacon, and his daughter were put to the sword. Their steward Symphronius, brought by the tribune Olympius into the temple of Mars, melted a golden idol by prayer, and Olympius, with his wife Exuperia and son Theodulus, believed, was baptized and then all were burned. Pope Stephen buried their remains.

Then the twelve clergy of the pope were beheaded, among them Theodore, with Bonus, Faustus, Maurus, Primitivus, Calumniosus, John, Exuperantius, Cyril, Basil, Castellus, Honoratus and Tertullin, brought to the faith by Stephen. Finally the pope himself was brought before Valerian, who condemned him to be beheaded in the temple of Mars, but at the saint's prayer most of the temple collapsed and the soldiers fled. The hierarch hid in the catacombs, in the cemetery of Saint Lucina, where he was killed by soldiers while he was teaching the Christians. Theodore is commemorated on 15 August (new style).