Commemorated on September 24
Thekla was born in Iconium of eminent but pagan parents. As a girl of eighteen, she was betrothed to a young man at the same time that the Apostle Paul arrived at Iconium with Barnabas to preach the Gospel. Hearing Paul’s testimony for three days and nights, Thekla converted to the Christian Faith, and vowed to live in virginity. Her mother, seeing that hse was now ignoring her betrothed and no longer thought of marriage, tried to dissuade her, and then beat her and tortured her by starvation. Finally, this wicked mother turned Thekla over to the judge and demanded that Thekla be burned. The judge threw her into the fire, but God preserved her unharmed. Then, Thekla followed the Apostle Paul, and went to Antioch with him.
Attracted by Thekla’s external beauty, a certain elder of the city wanted to take her for himself by force, but Thekla escaped his grasp. The pagan elder accused her to the eparch as a Christian who disdained marriage. The eparch condemned her to death, and had her thrown to wild beasts, but the wild beasts did not touch the body of this holy virgin. Amazed by this, the eparch asked her: “Who are you and what kind of power is in you, that nothing can harm you?”
Thekla replied: “I am a servant of the Living God.” The eparch then released her, and she departed to preach the Gospel. She succeeded in converting many to the true Faith, among whom was Tryphena, a prominent and honorable widow. Then having received the blessing of the Apostle Paul to do so, Thekla withdrew to a secluded place near Seleucia.There she lived a life of asceticism for a long time and, by healing the sick with wonderworking power, she converted many to Christianity.
The doctors and soothsayers in Seleucia were envious of her, and sent some young men to defile her, hoping that the loss of her virginity would also mean the loss of her miraculous power. Thecla fled from these arrogant young men, but as they were about to catch her, she prayed to God for help. A large rock opened up and hid this holy virgin and bride of Christ. This rock was her refuge and her tomb. St. John Chrysostom says of this wonderful Christian heroine and saint: “It seems to me that as I see this blessed virgin, in one hand she offers Christ virginity, and in the other hand, martyrdom.”
Troparion & Kontakion
Troparion — Tone 4
You were enlightened by the words of Paul, O Bride of God, Thekla, / and your faith was confirmed by Peter, O Chosen One of God. / You became the first sufferer and martyr among women, / by entering into the flames as into a place of gladness. / For when you accepted the Cross of Christ, / the demonic powers were frightened away. / O all-praised One, intercede before Christ God that our souls may be saved.
Kontakion — Tone 8
O glorious Thekla, virginity was your splendor, / the crown of martyrdom your adornment and the faith you trust! / You turned a burning fire into refreshing dew, / and with your prayers appeased pagan fury, O First Woman Martyr!