Theodosia

Holy Martyr Theodosia was the mother of the Holy Great Martyr Procopius of Caesarea (of Palestine). Procopius, in the world Neanias, was a native of Jerusalem and suffered in the time of the Emperor Diocletian (284 to 305). His father, a Roman of noble birth named Christopher, was a Christian, but his mother, Theodosia, remained a pagan. Losing his father early, the young man was raised by his mother. After a fine secular education he was presented to Diocletian in the first year of his reign and advanced quickly in service. By 303, when open persecution of Christians was begun, Neanias was sent as proconsul to Alexandria with the order to persecute the Church of God without mercy. But on the way to Egypt, near the Syrian city of Apamea, Neanias had an appearance of the Lord Jesus Christ, as once Saul on the road to Damascus. A divine voice announced, "Neanias, are you too going against Me?" Neanias asked, "Who are You, Lord?" "I am the crucified Jesus, the Son of God." At the same time a shining cross appeared in the air. After the vision Neanias felt in his heart unspeakable joy and spiritual gladness and from persecutor became a zealous follower of Christ. From then on he loved Christians and fought victoriously only against pagan barbarians.

But in the saint the Saviour's word was fulfilled that "a man's enemies will be those of his own household" (Matthew 10:36). His mother, a pagan, came herself to the emperor with a complaint against her son, who did not honour the gods of the fathers. Neanias was summoned to the procurator of Judea, Justus, where Diocletian's letter was solemnly handed to him. Reading the letter full of blasphemies, Neanias silently tore it up before everyone. This was already a crime, which the Romans called "insult to majesty." Neanias was taken into custody and sent in chains to Caesarea of Palestine, where the apostle Paul had once been imprisoned. After terrible tortures the saint was thrown into a damp prison. In the night light shone in the cell and the Lord Jesus Christ Himself, coming with bright angels, baptized the suffering confessor, giving him the name Procopius.

Many times Saint Procopius was taken to the court, forced to renounce Christ and tortured again. The martyr's steadfastness and his fiery faith brought down abundant grace of God on the people who saw the torture. Inspired by Procopius's struggle, many of the former guards of the holy prisoner and Roman soldiers, with their tribunes Nicostratus and Antiochus, went under the executioner's sword. Twelve Christian women, who came themselves to the gates of the Caesarea praetorium, also sealed their faith with crowns of martyrdom. Astonished by the great faith of the Christians and their courage, seeing the unyieldingness of her son, who bore severe sufferings, Theodosia repented, stood in the ranks of the confessors and was put to death. Finally the new procurator, Flavian, convinced of the uselessness of tortures, condemned the Holy Great Martyr Procopius to be beheaded. At night Christians took the much-⁠suffering body and, wrapping it in burial cloths, laid it in the earth with tears and prayers, in the year 303.

Theodosia is commemorated on 21 July (new style), with her son. Her name is not included in the present Menologion of the Russian Church.