St. Theodore Tiro – November 9th
Theodore was a new soldier in the Roman army when he was called on to die for the Faith. Although he was young, he knew how to keep his soul pure, and he considered the devil as his only real enemy.
When his legion had camped for the winter in the country of Pontus, all the soldiers were taking part in services to the pagan gods. Since he was a Christian and knew that these gods did not exist, he refused to join his comrades.
“How dare you profess a religion which the emperor punishes with death?” demanded the governor, when Theodore was arrested. Without hesitation, the young soldier answered, “I do not know your gods. Jesus Christ, the only son of God, is my God. If you take my answer as an offense, cut off my tongue. Every part of my body is ready for the sacrifice when God calls for this sacrifice.”
The pagan judges let Theodore go this time, but he was arrested later on for setting fire to a pagan temple. The judges first tried to win him with kindness. When that treatment did not work, they tried frightening him by describing the tortures he would go through. In the end, they did turn him over to the torturers.
When the suffering soldier was led back into prison, Angels came to comfort him. After he had been examined three times, he was finally condemned to death by fire. A beautiful church was later built to enshrine his ashes, and people began going to it in great crowds to pray to the martyr.
Neither fear nor beautiful promises should ever stop us from being faithful to God.
