Theodulus of Melitene

Holy Martyr Theodulus of Melitene is commemorated in the company of martyrs around the Holy Hieron, who suffered at Melitene. The calendar page we rely on tells their passion together and says nothing in particular about Theodulus.

Hieron, a strong man of Tyana in Cappadocia, born of a pious mother, Stratonike, refused to enlist in the pagan army of the emperors Diocletian and Maximian. The governor Lysias, sent to Cappadocia to gather soldiers and kill Christians who would not worship idols, sent men after him, whom Hieron put to flight. He then hid in a cave with eighteen Christians but, at the gentle counsel of his friend Cyriacus, set out for Melitene, after taking leave of his mother, an old and blind widow. At Melitene he was shut in prison with thirty-⁠three other Christians, whom he strengthened not to bow to idols. Lysias tried them, cut off Hieron's hand to the elbow and had the others beaten, and on the fifth day condemned them all to death by the sword. The martyrs went to the place of death singing a psalm and were beheaded. Hieron's head was ransomed with gold by Chrysaphius, who built a church on the place of the martyrdom, and his hand was carried to his mother.

Theodulus is commemorated on 20 November (new style), that is 7 November by the old calendar.