Saint Theodore Stratilates († 319) was from the city of Euchaita in Asia Minor. According to legend, near the city there was a pit from which a serpent emerged daily to hunt people or animals. One day, Saint Theodore decided to confront the beast. Armed, he set off on his own without telling anyone. When he arrived at the spot, the serpent was not there, so he lay down in the grass and fell asleep. He was awakened by a Christian woman named Eusebia, who kept the relics of Saint Theodore of Tyre in her home. After praying, the saint mounted his horse and challenged the serpent to a fight. When the monster emerged from the pit, the knight struck and defeated it. When the locals heard about this deed, many of them believed in Christ.

After this, Theodore was appointed a military commander (Greek: “stratilates”) in the city of Heraclea. Emperor Licinius, co-ruler with Constantine, learned of the many people who had been baptized due to the saint’s example and invited him to the capital. Theodore declined, explaining that a large number of people had rejected the Roman gods, and there was a risk of rebellion and separation of the city from Rome. He suggested that the emperor visit Heraclea to offer sacrifices to the gods, thus persuading the people to abandon Christianity. Licinius visited the city with many golden idols for people to worship. Theodore asked the emperor to hand over the idols for prayer purposes. During the night, the saint broke the statues and distributed the valuable fragments to the poor. When the emperor found out, he ordered that Theodore be cruelly tortured. He was stretched on the ground, beaten with iron rods, burned, and then crucified and blinded. However, during the night, an angel fully healed him and removed him from the cross. The next morning, when the emperor’s messengers came to throw the saint’s body into the sea, they discovered that he was alive. Many of them, as well as others who witnessed the miracle, believed in Christ. Finally, the emperor ordered that Theodore be beheaded. This took place in 319. The account of the saint’s suffering and death was written by his servant, the scribe Uar.

Iconography of Saint Theodore Stratilates

In Ukrainian iconography, images of Saint Theodore Stratilates are less common than those of Saint George or Saint Demetrius. He is often depicted as a beardless (less often bearded) warrior with a spear and a round shield. Sometimes, beneath his feet, a defeated serpent can be seen. It is important to note that such iconography is also found in the icons of Saint Theodore Tyro, whose legends share many similarities with those of Theodore Stratilates, which can cause confusion. Therefore, in the absence of inscriptions, it is often difficult to determine which of the two Theodore saints is depicted.

Mykhailo Skop

Icons of “The Miracle of Theodore and the Dragon”