09/24/2026 – Життя Святих / Lives of the Saints
Св. первмц. й рівноап. Теклі
Protomartyr and Equal of the Apostles Thekla
The Holy Protomartyr and Equal of the Apostles Thekla was born in Iconium. She was the daughter of rich and illustrious parents and was distinguished by extraordinary beauty. At eighteen, she was betrothed to an eminent youth. After hearing the preaching of the Apostle Paul, she came to love the Lord Jesus Christ with all her heart and resolved not to marry, but to devote her life to Christ and the preaching of the Gospel.
Her mother opposed her decision, while her fiancé complained to the prefect about Paul, who was imprisoned. During the night, Thekla secretly entered the prison and spent three days at the feet of the Apostle Paul, listening to his teaching. When she was discovered, she was brought home by force.
At Paul’s trial, he was sentenced to banishment. Thekla was again urged to marry, but neither her mother’s tears nor the threats of the prefect could separate her from Christ. In anger, her mother demanded her death, and Thekla was sentenced to be burned.
The holy martyr entered the fire without fear and made the Sign of the Cross. The Savior appeared to her, and the flames did not touch her. Thunder sounded, and heavy rain and hail extinguished the fire. The torturers fled, and Thekla went in search of the Apostle Paul, who was hiding with Saint Barnabas and his companions.
Saint Thekla later went with them preaching the Gospel in Antioch. There, a powerful man named Alexander pursued her and offered marriage. When she refused, she was condemned to death for being a Christian. Hungry wild animals were released against her, but they did not harm her. Finally, she was tied to two oxen and tortured with red-hot rods, but the cords broke and the oxen ran away. Seeing these miracles, the people cried out, “Great is the God of the Christians!” The prefect then ordered her release.
With the blessing of the Apostle Paul, Saint Thekla settled in Seleucia. She lived there for many years, preaching the Word of God and healing the sick through prayer. Many pagans were converted to Christ, and the Church honors her as “Equal-to-the-Apostles.”
When she was ninety years old, pagan sorcerers became angry because she healed the sick freely. They sent people to attack her, but Saint Thekla called upon Christ for help. A rock split open and hid the holy virgin, and thus she offered her soul to the Lord.