Saint Theodosia of Constantinople lived during the eighth century and was born in answer to the fervent prayers of her parents. After their deaths, she was raised at the women’s monastery of the Holy Martyr Anastasia in Constantinople. After distributing what remained of her parental inheritance to the poor, she became a nun. She also used part of the money to commission gold and silver icons of the Savior, the Theotokos, and St. Anastasia.
When Leo the Isaurian ascended the throne, he issued an edict that holy icons be destroyed everywhere. Above the Bronze Gates at Constantinople was a bronze icon of the Savior, which had been there for more than 400 years. In 730, the iconoclast Patriarch Anastasius ordered that the icon be destroyed.
The Virgin Martyr Theodosia and other women rushed to protect the icon and toppled the ladder with the soldier who was carrying out the command. The women then stoned Patriarch Anastasius.
Emperor Leo ordered the women to be beheaded. St. Theodosia, an ardent defender of icons, was thrown in prison. She was given one hundred lashes a day for over one week. On the eighth day, she was led through the city, being beaten along the way. Ultimately, one of the soldiers stabbed her in the throat with a ram’s horn, and she received the crown of martyrdom.
Following the Triumph of Orthodoxy over iconoclasm she was recognized as a martyr and saint, and The body of the holy virgin martyr was reverently buried by Christians in the St. Euphemia Monastery in Constantinople, near a place called Dexiokratis. The tomb of St. Theodosia was glorified by numerous healings of the sick.
Thank you for this wonderful web site. It’s filled with so many interesting and important information. I am happy to have discovered its existence and I will pass the web site info on to friends and family.
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Three, tragic, brutal and un-necessary deaths over icons??? REALLY??? How very sad. dionne
Not over icons but He whom the icon represents! (Mt10:37-39)
St. Theodosia, please help my son to get the job that he’s been praying and waiting for, this we ask in Jesus name, please intercede for us, Amen.
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A model of courage and fearlessness, St Theodosia, pray for our society where greed and selfishness have over shadowed truth and sincerity of hearts. Intercede for the leadership and followership of my dear Country,Nigeria so that there will be complete transformation of the country for our common benefit and to the greater glory of God. Amen
St. Theodosia of Constantinople, pray for us.
St. Theodosia thank you for your life, please pray for us. Thank you ucatholic
Dear St. Theodosia,
Please intercede for our country, the USA, who daily commit the even more brutal iconoclasm of Christ in the womb-ABORTION. Pray for all the leaders who embrace this monstrous work that mars every city in our country. Intercede for more women like you who will shake the “ladders” of our government in protest and in protection of our children made in the image and likeness of GOD.
Saint Theodosia of Constantinople, pray for us!
Saint Theodosia of Constantinople, please pray for all the unborn and the poor souls of purgatory and the young mothers with children..r
St. Theodosia, pray for us.
YOUR. PROFOUND……..ACTIONS…….RAISE. THE. QUESTIONS……HOW. IS. IT. POSSIBLE…..??????????
SAINT. THEODOSIA……….TO…….HAVE….ACTIONS……SPEAK. LOUDER…..THAN…WORDS!!!!!!
YOU…..SAINT. THEODOSIA………DID….NOT…..ALLOW……..PEOPLE…TO…THREATEN……..YOU……….WHO…IS…GOOD
ENOUGH…..TO…..SAY…UNTO…YOU……IT….WILL…BE….A….COLD….COLD…..WINTER!!!!!!!!!! SAINT. THEODOSIA,,,,,
IN. A. STATE. OF. ELEVATOR……..WATCH…WHAT…IS…HEARD….THE….WALLS….AROUND….YOU
HAVE….BIG…….E A R S !!!!!!!!!!!!!!
SOMEONE. IS. ALWAYS……LISTENING !!!!!!SAINT. THEODOSIA……LEND. ME. YOUR. EAR. !!!!!!!!!!
Saint Theodosia, we pray for the Religious Nuns.
Saint Theodosia pray for us amen