February: Day 8: Holy Great Martyr Theodore Stratelates

February: Day 8:
Holy Great Martyr Theodore Stratelates
 
(On the Properties of Christian Meekness)

By Archpriest Grigory Dyachenko

I. When Saint Theodore, whose memory we celebrate today, who was a stratelates (i.e., military leader) and governor of the city of Heraclia, declared himself a Christian before the ruler of the Roman Empire Licinius, he was subjected to cruel torture, beaten with ox sinews and tin rods, his body was scraped with iron nails and burned with fire. During all these torments, the Saint did not utter a single word of complaint, but continually said: "Glory to You, my God!" After five days of agonizing imprisonment, the torturer ordered the holy sufferer to be crucified on a cross. But an angel of the Lord took the passion-bearer down from the cross at night, and he sat unharmed at its foot. A multitude of people gathered for this miracle, and Saint Theodore preached the faith of Christ, to which many pagans immediately joined. Licinius, certain of Theodore's death, sent two centurions to take the martyr's body down from the cross and throw it into the sea, but when they arrived at the place of execution and saw Theodore healthy, both centurions exclaimed: "Great is the Christian God!" and from that hour they believed in Christ. Likewise, Sixtus, the emperor's governor, sent by Licinius, converted to Christ with three hundred soldiers. The multitude of people who had gathered to witness the extraordinary salvation of the Holy Martyr were greatly agitated and wanted to stone the torturer.

The excitement was especially heightened when one pagan rushed forward with a sword to strike Saint Theodore, but was repelled by Sixtus and fell dead. Another pagan struck Sixtus, and thus began a bloodbath in which Licinius and all those accompanying him could have been killed by the embittered people. But Saint Theodore the Stratelates said in a raised voice to the troubled people: “Beloved brethren! Cease defending me. When they crucified my Lord Jesus Christ, He did not want the angels to take vengeance on His murderers. Do not raise up a fight against Licinius; he does not do his own will, but the will of his father the devil. But I must go to my Lord Jesus Christ.” With these words the Holy Martyr calmed the agitated people and courageously bowed his head under the sword. Put to shame by the power of God and the meekness of the sufferer, the persecutor was forced to leave the city. All the inhabitants gathered at the body of the Martyr and performed a solemn burial over him, glorifying Christ, who had granted the Holy Passion-bearer an extraordinary sign of salvation to the glory of God and to the shame of unbelievers.

II. This feature from the life of the Holy Great Martyr Theodore the Stratelates, celebrated today, teaches us Christian meekness. Therefore, let us now talk about the properties of this great Christian virtue.

a) The highest and most perfect image of meekness was shown in His earthly life by our Savior the Lord Jesus Christ, showing us an example to follow. "Learn from Me," He says, "for I am meek and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls" (Matt. 11:29). In what way did He show us this meekness and humility, what features and qualities of this meekness do we see in Him?

We see, first of all, that our Lord Jesus Christ was indifferent to human glory and did not seek it. He did not exalt Himself in any way over other people, did not despise anyone, did not demand that they serve and please Him, but on the contrary, He humbled Himself, taking the form of a servant... "He humbled Himself, becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on the cross" (Phil. 2:7), and He Himself served and pleased everyone.

Look further, what kindness and patience He shows in resentments, insults and persecutions against Him, how quiet and submissive to the will of God in torments and sufferings. Everyone is embittered against Him, they harbor hatred towards Him, they seek to destroy Him, but He harbors no malice towards anyone, forgives and pities everyone, loves everyone and is kind to everyone. Finally, they nail Him to the cross, the enemies here too in their furious malice mock Him, but He submissively and unquestioningly endures these torments and meekly prays for the enemies: "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do!" There is not a single deed or action in His entire life that would reveal His impatience, irritation, bitterness, annoyance or anger, but His entire life and deeds reveal to us only kindness, gentleness, good nature and compliance with people and submission, devotion to the will of God.

Thus, it behooves us, brethren, according to the commandment of Jesus Christ, to be quiet, compliant, soft-hearted, gentle, unvindictive, indifferent to praise and honors, patient with reproaches and insults.

b) Such were all the saints. Here is an example. In one monastery there was a certain meek elder named Cyrus, who, however, with all his meekness and gentleness, was not liked by the brethren, and therefore the brethren constantly offended and insulted him. Not only the elders, but even the youths, who were under temptation, mocked him and often drove him away from the table. And this continued for fifteen years. At one time, it happened that the Venerable John Climacus was in this monastery. Seeing how the meek Cyrus, driven away from the table, often went to bed hungry, he asked him: "Tell me, father, what do these insults against you mean?" "Believe me, dear guest in Christ," answered the humble elder, "that the brethren do this not out of malice, but by God's permission, in order to test me, whether I worthily bear the angelic image. Having entered this monastery, I heard that a hermit must be under trial for thirty years, but I have lived only half of it.” Thus, we must endure any offense, any persecution, and oppression not only good-naturedly, without malice, and patiently, but also look at them from the good side, as a means to atone for our sins and unrighteousness before God, or to manifest our faith before Him in firmness of patience, accepting these offenses as trials sent by God.

III. The Lord promises a great reward to such meek and quiet people. He promises that they will inherit the earth, i.e., the Kingdom of God. May the Lord grant us this reward!  

Source: A Complete Annual Cycle of Short Teachings, Composed for Each Day of the Year. Translated by John Sanidopoulos.