Theodotus of Cyzicus

Holy Martyr Theodotus of Cyzicus is one of the nine martyrs of Cyzicus: Theognis, Rufus, Antipater, Theostichus, Artemas, Magnus, Theodotus, Thaumasius and Philemon. Cyzicus is a city of Asia Minor, on the shore of the Dardanelles, into which Christianity had come as early as the preaching of the Holy Apostle Paul. At the end of the third century the city was nevertheless largely pagan, and true Christians wished to strengthen faith in Christ there.

The nine holy martyrs came from various places and were of different ages, young like Antipater and old like Rufus, soldiers, villagers, townsmen and clerics, but united by a single faith and a single desire to strengthen it. At Cyzicus they boldly confessed Christ and fearlessly rebuked pagan unbelief. They were seized and brought to trial before the governor. For several days they were tortured, imprisoned and brought out again, with the promise of freedom for renunciation, but they continued to glorify the name of Christ. All nine were beheaded, between 284 and 292 (according to some data), and their bodies were buried near the city.

In 324, when the eastern half of the empire came under Constantine the Great and the persecution ceased, the Christians of Cyzicus raised the incorrupt bodies of the nine martyrs from the earth and placed them in a church built in their honour. From the holy relics healings were shown and the mad regained their reason, and the faith of Christ was strengthened in the city. Under Julian the Apostate the pagans demanded the rebuilding of the temples, and Bishop Eleusius was imprisoned, but after Julian's death he was freed. In Russia, near Kazan, the hierodeacon Stephen, who had brought part of the relics from Palestine, founded a monastery in honour of the nine martyrs, in hope of deliverance from diseases, especially the fever in Kazan in 1687. Saint Demetrius of Rostov composed their service and wrote their passion.

Theodotus is commemorated on 12 May (new style), with the other eight. The name Theodotus means in Greek "Given by God."