The life of St Theodore Stratelates
For that, and for his bearing as a soldier, he was made a commander and set over the city of Heraclea, where he governed and preached together, and in time most of the city had come to the faith through him.
When Licinius turned on the Christians in the army he came for Theodore too. Theodore told him to bring his gods out and they would sacrifice together before the people, which the emperor took as mockery. He was seized, dragged on the ground, beaten with bars of iron, driven through with spikes, burned, blinded, and finally put on a cross, saying only, Glory to Thee, my God, through all of it. In the night an angel took him down from the cross and healed his body, and in the morning the soldiers set to guard him found him alive and whole, and many of them believed and were baptized for it. Rather than let the Christians of the city rise up in his defense, Theodore gave himself back to Licinius. On the way to his death people who touched his clothing were healed of what ailed them. He asked his servant Varus to remember the day and to bury him at Euchaita, and then he bent his head under the sword.
