In the Synaxarion of the martyrs Agathopodas and Theodoulos, the time of their martyrdom is not mentioned. However, taking into account certain details from the extended Martyrdom that follows the Synaxarion, we conclude that the two martyrs were perfected at the beginning of the Diocletian persecution, under Caesar Maximian (286–305) and the governor Faustinus.
In their Martyrology, special emphasis is placed on the courage, boldness, and steadfastness of the two martyrs in the true faith, which aroused the admiration of all those present.
Both martyrs were from Thessaloniki. Theodoulos, young in age, was a Reader and came from a distinguished family. His brothers — Kapiton, Metrodoros, and Philostorgos — were very devout young men, and during the difficult hours that Theodoulos endured after his arrest, they stood by him, strengthening and encouraging him. It is also noted in his Synaxarion that shortly before the persecution against the Christians broke out, Theodoulos, while asleep, received as a gift a unique ring, a symbol of God the giver. After this event, Theodoulos acquired healing abilities and performed cures.
Agathopodas (Agathoponus or Agathopolus or Agathonis in ancient Latin synaxaria, while in Greek he is often known as Agathopous), advanced in age, held the rank of Deacon when he was arrested together with Theodoulos and brought before Faustinus, the governor of Thessaloniki, with the aim that they either deny their faith and sacrifice to the idols or be put to death. But both, being of one soul and one mind, declared before Faustinus that they would not yield or deny the one and only God.
Faustinus, seeing with what boldness and bravery they both faced the threat of death, decided to attempt to persuade them separately. For this reason, he dismissed everyone and kept only Theodoulos near him, hoping that he might bend him more easily because of his youth. However, he did not succeed, for neither promises nor threats shook the resolve of Theodoulos; on the contrary, he showed such courage that Faustinus was astonished. Seeing his failure, he ordered Theodoulos to be taken away and Agathopodas to be brought before him. He urged him to sacrifice to the idols, pointing out his age and the prudence he ought to show. Moreover, to weaken him further, he told him that Theodoulos had already sacrificed before him. Agathopodas, immediately perceiving the deception, answered accordingly, saying:
“I too will gladly offer a sacrifice of words to my God and to His Son Jesus Christ; for to them also Theodoulos promised to offer a sweet-smelling sacrifice.”
He then made a firm confession of his faith, such that many, fearing lest others awaiting trial might be strengthened in the same way, urged Faustinus to imprison him together with Theodoulos. At that time, several from the crowd, out of cowardice, tried to persuade them — reminding Theodoulos of his youth, which he should spare, and Agathopodas of his white hair. But the two would-be martyrs remained unyielding; therefore, they were led to prison, where they spent the night in prayer.
At midnight they were strengthened by auspicious dreams; afterward they continued to pray and glorify God who had supported them. In the quiet of the night, the hymns of the two Saints spread throughout the prison, and many of the imprisoned criminals, seeing their courage and calmness, were moved to repentance, even disregarding death itself. Because of the noise, a crowd gathered outside entered the prison and marveled at what was happening.
A certain Urbanus, who had witnessed all that occurred in the prison, hurried to report it to Faustinus and urged him to put Theodoulos and Agathopodas to death as quickly as possible, because the longer they remained in prison, the more people they would draw to the Christian faith.
Faustinus, troubled by what he heard, ordered the two prisoners to be brought before him immediately for further interrogation. First he questioned Theodoulos; but soon he abandoned attempts to persuade him with words and ordered that he be tortured. Theodoulos endured all the tortures with patience and courage; yet many who were present could not even bear the sight of the terrible punishments, lost heart, and chose to eat of the idol sacrifices. Finally, Faustinus ordered that he be beheaded, hoping that the martyr would lose courage and yield before the threat — but again he failed.
Then he summoned Agathopodas, who displayed the same courageous behavior as Theodoulos; therefore, he ordered once more that they be imprisoned. During the night, the two martyrs were strengthened by a vision: they saw themselves in a ship that sank, and only they were saved. After this, they glorified God, and thus prepared and strengthened, they were taken by the guards to be brought before Faustinus, who would pronounce the final sentence.
For the last time, Faustinus attempted to persuade them, but the only answer he received was:
“We are Christians, and for Jesus Christ we choose to endure all things.”
Thereupon he ordered that they be thrown into the sea to drown. As they were led to the place of execution, they were accompanied by some pagans who tried, even at the last moment, to persuade them, and also by a group of Christians who blessed them for remaining faithful to the end.
After some time, the two martyrs were thrown into the sea, but their bonds were loosened, and the Christians were able to recover their bodies. It is also noted in their Synaxarion that the martyr Theodoulos appeared to certain Christians after his death, wearing a splendid garment, and instructed them to distribute his possessions to widows, orphans, and all who were in need — thus revealing his charitable and merciful nature even after death.
An important reference to the place of the martyrdom of Theodoulos and Agathopodas is given in the Life of Saint David the Dendrite. Specifically, in the account of his return by sea from Constantinople to Thessaloniki — where he reposed — it is mentioned that the ship approached the city but did not dock at the harbor; instead, it anchored west of the city, at the place where the bodies of Saints Theodoulos and Agathopodas had been thrown by the most impious and godless Maximian the Caesar and Faustinus the governor.
In another account of their martyrdom, preserved in a manuscript of the Monastery of Iviron on Mount Athos, the existence of a church dedicated to the two martyrs in the city of Thessaloniki is noted.
A Canon in honor of Saints Theodoulos and Agathopodas was composed by Saint Joseph the Hymnographer, who, as is known, had also passed through and stayed for some time in Thessaloniki.
The memory of the two martyrs is celebrated on April 4.
In their Martyrology, special emphasis is placed on the courage, boldness, and steadfastness of the two martyrs in the true faith, which aroused the admiration of all those present.
Both martyrs were from Thessaloniki. Theodoulos, young in age, was a Reader and came from a distinguished family. His brothers — Kapiton, Metrodoros, and Philostorgos — were very devout young men, and during the difficult hours that Theodoulos endured after his arrest, they stood by him, strengthening and encouraging him. It is also noted in his Synaxarion that shortly before the persecution against the Christians broke out, Theodoulos, while asleep, received as a gift a unique ring, a symbol of God the giver. After this event, Theodoulos acquired healing abilities and performed cures.
Agathopodas (Agathoponus or Agathopolus or Agathonis in ancient Latin synaxaria, while in Greek he is often known as Agathopous), advanced in age, held the rank of Deacon when he was arrested together with Theodoulos and brought before Faustinus, the governor of Thessaloniki, with the aim that they either deny their faith and sacrifice to the idols or be put to death. But both, being of one soul and one mind, declared before Faustinus that they would not yield or deny the one and only God.
Faustinus, seeing with what boldness and bravery they both faced the threat of death, decided to attempt to persuade them separately. For this reason, he dismissed everyone and kept only Theodoulos near him, hoping that he might bend him more easily because of his youth. However, he did not succeed, for neither promises nor threats shook the resolve of Theodoulos; on the contrary, he showed such courage that Faustinus was astonished. Seeing his failure, he ordered Theodoulos to be taken away and Agathopodas to be brought before him. He urged him to sacrifice to the idols, pointing out his age and the prudence he ought to show. Moreover, to weaken him further, he told him that Theodoulos had already sacrificed before him. Agathopodas, immediately perceiving the deception, answered accordingly, saying:
“I too will gladly offer a sacrifice of words to my God and to His Son Jesus Christ; for to them also Theodoulos promised to offer a sweet-smelling sacrifice.”
He then made a firm confession of his faith, such that many, fearing lest others awaiting trial might be strengthened in the same way, urged Faustinus to imprison him together with Theodoulos. At that time, several from the crowd, out of cowardice, tried to persuade them — reminding Theodoulos of his youth, which he should spare, and Agathopodas of his white hair. But the two would-be martyrs remained unyielding; therefore, they were led to prison, where they spent the night in prayer.
At midnight they were strengthened by auspicious dreams; afterward they continued to pray and glorify God who had supported them. In the quiet of the night, the hymns of the two Saints spread throughout the prison, and many of the imprisoned criminals, seeing their courage and calmness, were moved to repentance, even disregarding death itself. Because of the noise, a crowd gathered outside entered the prison and marveled at what was happening.
A certain Urbanus, who had witnessed all that occurred in the prison, hurried to report it to Faustinus and urged him to put Theodoulos and Agathopodas to death as quickly as possible, because the longer they remained in prison, the more people they would draw to the Christian faith.
Faustinus, troubled by what he heard, ordered the two prisoners to be brought before him immediately for further interrogation. First he questioned Theodoulos; but soon he abandoned attempts to persuade him with words and ordered that he be tortured. Theodoulos endured all the tortures with patience and courage; yet many who were present could not even bear the sight of the terrible punishments, lost heart, and chose to eat of the idol sacrifices. Finally, Faustinus ordered that he be beheaded, hoping that the martyr would lose courage and yield before the threat — but again he failed.
Then he summoned Agathopodas, who displayed the same courageous behavior as Theodoulos; therefore, he ordered once more that they be imprisoned. During the night, the two martyrs were strengthened by a vision: they saw themselves in a ship that sank, and only they were saved. After this, they glorified God, and thus prepared and strengthened, they were taken by the guards to be brought before Faustinus, who would pronounce the final sentence.
For the last time, Faustinus attempted to persuade them, but the only answer he received was:
“We are Christians, and for Jesus Christ we choose to endure all things.”
Thereupon he ordered that they be thrown into the sea to drown. As they were led to the place of execution, they were accompanied by some pagans who tried, even at the last moment, to persuade them, and also by a group of Christians who blessed them for remaining faithful to the end.
After some time, the two martyrs were thrown into the sea, but their bonds were loosened, and the Christians were able to recover their bodies. It is also noted in their Synaxarion that the martyr Theodoulos appeared to certain Christians after his death, wearing a splendid garment, and instructed them to distribute his possessions to widows, orphans, and all who were in need — thus revealing his charitable and merciful nature even after death.
An important reference to the place of the martyrdom of Theodoulos and Agathopodas is given in the Life of Saint David the Dendrite. Specifically, in the account of his return by sea from Constantinople to Thessaloniki — where he reposed — it is mentioned that the ship approached the city but did not dock at the harbor; instead, it anchored west of the city, at the place where the bodies of Saints Theodoulos and Agathopodas had been thrown by the most impious and godless Maximian the Caesar and Faustinus the governor.
In another account of their martyrdom, preserved in a manuscript of the Monastery of Iviron on Mount Athos, the existence of a church dedicated to the two martyrs in the city of Thessaloniki is noted.
A Canon in honor of Saints Theodoulos and Agathopodas was composed by Saint Joseph the Hymnographer, who, as is known, had also passed through and stayed for some time in Thessaloniki.
The memory of the two martyrs is celebrated on April 4.
BIBLIOGRAPHY:
AASS, Propylaeum ad Novembris, Synaxarium Ecclesiae Constantinopolitanae, Brussels 1902, cols. 583–586.
AASS Novembris, Vol. II, part posterior, Martyrologium Hieronymianum, Brussels 1931, pp. 173–174.
AASS Aprilis I, 1–10, Antwerp 1675, pp. 321–325.
AASS, Propylaeum ad Decembris, Martyrologium Romanum, Brussels 1940, pp. 124–125.
Analecta Hymnica Graeca VIII (Canones Aprilis), pp. 106–116.
BHG 1784.
Delidemos, E., “Saint David of Thessaloniki,” in The Translation of the Holy Relics of Saint David to Thessaloniki (July 17, 1978), Thessaloniki 1979, pp. 35, 50.
Efstratiadis, Sophronios, Synaxarion of the Orthodox Church, Athens, n.d., p. 179.
Theological Encyclopedia of Greece (ΘΗΕ) 1 (1962), p. 104.
Niceta di Grigoli, “Agathopodas and Theodoulos, saints, martyrs of Thessaloniki,” Bibliotheca Sanctorum 1 (1961), pp. 347–348.
Langes, Matthaios, The Great Synaxarion of the Orthodox Church, vol. D (April), Athens 1979, pp. 76–89.
Tomadakis, Eutychios, Joseph the Hymnographer: Life and Works, Athens 1971, p. 154, no. 227.
Rose, V., Life of Saint David of Thessaloniki, Berlin 1887, pp. 13, 19–23.
Source: Translated by John Sanidopoulos.