Theodosia of Tyre

Saint Theodosia of Tyre was a seventeen-⁠year-⁠old maiden who openly confessed Christ at Caesarea in Palestine during the persecution at the beginning of the fourth century, and so received the crown of martyrdom. Her story was preserved by Eusebius of Caesarea, who lived through those years. The Church commemorates her on 2 April.

The time of persecution

Eusebius was at Caesarea during those years and tells Theodosia's story in his Martyrs of Palestine, in a shorter and a longer version that differ in small details. It was the time of the great persecution, when by imperial order all were required to sacrifice to the Roman gods on pain of death. For five years the governor Urbanus had been enforcing these orders in the city.

Martyrdom

Theodosia had come from Tyre, in Lebanon, to Caesarea in Palestine. On Easter Day of the year 307, according to Eusebius, she went to the public square, where a number of Christians stood in chains awaiting trial. She encouraged them and asked that they remember her in their prayers.

Seized by the guards and brought before the governor, she refused to sacrifice to the gods. She was then tortured with iron combs on her sides and breast, until her inward parts could be seen. Seeing that she endured it without complaint, the governor urged her to sacrifice and go free. She answered that she had come there on purpose to be put to death, and that she rejoiced to be counted worthy to share in the sufferings of God's martyrs. She was then thrown into the sea.

After her death

Eusebius says that Urbanus had spent all his fury on the young girl, so that the Christians she had spoken to were sent as slaves to the copper mines, without further torture.

The Serbian tradition adds, dating it to 308 in the reign of Maximian, that a judge ordered a stone hung round her neck and had her cast into the deep. The angels of God brought her ashore alive, and when she appeared again before the judge, he ordered her beheaded. It is also said that the following night she appeared to her parents, who had tried to turn her from confessing Christ, shining in heavenly glory and surrounded by other saved maidens, and told them that they had wished to deprive her of such glory. She is commemorated on 2 April, and the Serbian Church keeps her memory on 29 May by the church calendar.