By Fr. George Dorbarakis
1. Saint Theodore lived during the time of Licinius. He was born in Euchaita and was from there by origin, though he lived in Heraclea of Pontus. He was handsome in body, but even more beautiful in soul, adorned with eloquence, knowledge, and every other kind of wisdom; for this reason some called him Vryorhetor (‘the Powerful Orator’). After passing through every kind of torture, the Saint left his blessed body upon the earth, a body which pours forth streams of healings upon all who approach it with faith. His holy spirit, however, dwells in the heavens. It is the translation of this precious and holy body that we celebrate today.
2. As is often the case, the feast of the translation of the relics of the Great Martyr Theodore contains virtually nothing concerning the actual event of the translation itself. The entire Service is devoted instead to the exaltation of the Saint’s holiness and virtues. Here the hymnographer, Saint Theophanes, repeatedly makes use of the Saint’s very name in order to emphasize that he is “one who bears the name of the gifts of God” (Ode I and elsewhere). He also focuses on the martyrdom that Theodore endured.
Indeed, the dreadful martyrdom of Saint Theodore provides Theophanes with the occasion to set forth, albeit briefly, a theology of martyrdom that deserves particular attention once again. Martyrdom is not merely a series of sufferings endured by a martyr through some extraordinary transcendence of human nature, elevating him into a superhuman condition and making him a model of heroism and courage. Such a view represents a merely horizontal and worldly understanding of what he suffered.
Christian martyrdom is rather a charismatic event, something that exists and is endured through the power of Christ as participation in His sufferings. In other words, the martyrdom of a Christian saint, such as Saint Theodore in this case, is an extension of the martyrdom of Christ Himself; it is the co-crucifixion of a member of Christ with the crucified Lord. Just as the Lord endured the Passion of the Cross — the culmination of the entire suffering of His earthly life — so too the martyr of Christ, when the opportunity is given, undergoes various torments as though he himself were lifted up upon the Cross. As a result, of course, through the grace of God he also receives the power of the Resurrection, which always follows the Cross.
“O most wise one, you were beautified by joining your venerable sufferings to the sufferings of the Master, and by being deemed worthy of His brightness and the desired gladness" (Ode IV).
“Trusting in You, who for my sake endured the Cross and death, I am hung upon a cross, O Master; I am pierced by arrows and subjected to grievous torments, O Lord, cried the courageous-minded martyr Theodore as he struggled in the contest" (Ode VIII).
Thus martyrdom for Christ constitutes the supreme act of faith in Him. A Christian reaches the highest point of faith when he is willing to give even his very life in order to remain steadfast in the will of Christ.
We have repeatedly noted, however, that in the martyrdom of a believer there is usually another Christian — or several Christians — who strengthen him and act as his encouragers and spiritual supporters. In the case of Saint Theodore, no such human encourager appears to be present.
And yet there was one.
Saint Theophanes reminds us that this role was assumed by the Lord Himself. While Saint Theodore was in prison, Christ appeared to him, strengthening him to endure the tortures and urging him onward in his struggle against the enemy.
“As you were lawfully contending, Christ appeared to you while imprisoned, anointing and encouraging you like an organizer of the games toward the contests and the wrestling matches against the enemy, O glorious one" (Ode VI).
God never leaves us without assistance. Whether through His faithful servants or through His own personal presence, He always comes to our aid in our difficulties, especially when those difficulties are endured out of obedience to His holy will.
This is a reality we should never forget, provided that within us there remains even a spark of true faith.
Source: Translated by John Sanidopoulos.
