Theodulus of Tripolis

Holy Martyr Theodulus of Tripolis was a Roman soldier who received baptism and the crown of martyrdom together with the tribune Hypatius and Saint Leontius, in Tripolis of Phoenicia, sometime between the years 70 and 79.

Leontius, a Greek by birth, was an officer in the army of the emperor Vespasian at Tripolis, and he was respected by the soldiers and the citizens for his bravery and good sense. The emperor sent the senator Hadrian as governor of Phoenicia, with power to pursue Christians and to put them to torture and death if they would not sacrifice to the Roman gods. On the way Hadrian learned that Leontius had turned many from the worship of idols, and he sent the tribune Hypatius to Tripolis with a band of soldiers to seize him.

On the road Hypatius fell gravely ill and, close to death, saw an angel in a dream, who told him to cry out three times with his soldiers: God of Leontius, help me. Waking, Hypatius told the dream to his men, among whom was his friend Theodulus, and all cried out three times. Hypatius was healed at once, to the joy of all, while Theodulus sat apart, pondering the wonder. His soul was filled with love for God, and he urged Hypatius that the two of them go into the city at once to look for Leontius.

At the city gate they were met by a stranger, who invited them into his house and gave them a generous meal. When they learned that their host was Leontius himself, they fell on their knees and asked him to enlighten them in the faith of the true God. There they were baptized, and when Leontius pronounced over them the invocation of the Holy Trinity, a bright cloud overshadowed them and a gracious rain fell.

The other soldiers reached Tripolis, where Hadrian had also arrived. Learning what had happened, the governor had Leontius, the tribune Hypatius and Theodulus brought before him and, threatening them with torment and death, demanded that they deny Christ and sacrifice to the gods. All firmly confessed the faith. Hypatius was hung on a post and scraped with iron claws, and Theodulus was beaten mercilessly with rods. Seeing that they could not be moved, the governor ordered their heads cut off with the sword.

Leontius was thrown into prison after his torments, and in the morning he stood again before Hadrian, who tried to entice him with honours and gifts. Failing, he tortured him: all day the martyr hung head downward from a post with a heavy stone at his neck, and nothing could make him renounce Christ. Then the governor ordered him beaten until he died. His body was cast outside the city, but Christians buried it with honour near Tripolis.

The trial, torments and death of Leontius were written on tin tablets by the clerk who was present at the hearing, and the tablets were laid in the martyr's coffin. The saints are commemorated on 1 July.