- For another Saint Theodore, see: Theodore Stratelates or Saint Theodore (disambiguation).
Theodore | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Martyr | |
| Born | unknown Euchaita, Roman Empire (modern-day Beyözü, Turkey) |
| Died | 17 February 306 Amasea, Roman Empire (modern-day Amasya, Turkey) |
| Feast | Catholic Church: 9 November Eastern Orthodox Church: 17 February and the first Saturday in Great Lent; Korčula: 27 July |
| Attributes | Dressed as a soldier sometimes in court dress, with emblems such as a spear, temple,[1] torch,[1] crocodile[1] or dragon, pyre,[1] crown of thorns[1] |
| Patronage | soldiers, Venice,[1] Brindisi,[1] against storms,[1] recovery of lost articles[2] |
Saint Theodore (Άγιος Θεοδώρος), distinguished as Theodore of Amasea, Theodore the Recruit (Θεοδώρος ό Τήρων), and by other names, is a Christian saint and Great Martyr, particularly revered in the Eastern Orthodox Churches but also honored in Roman Catholicism and Oriental Orthodoxy. According to legend, he was a legionary in the Roman army who suffered martyrdom by immolation at Amasea in Galatian Pontus (modern Amasya, Turkey) during the Great Persecution under Diocletian in the early 4th century. Venerated by the late 4th century, he became a prominent warrior saint during the Middle Ages, attracted a great deal of additional legends including accounts of battle against dragons, and was often confused with (or was the original source of) the similar Theodore Stratelates of Heraclea.