Saint Thecla the Martyr was born in 30 AD, in Iconium, present day Konya, Turkey. She lived as a early Christian missionary and was the disciple of Apostle Paul. She died in the late 1st century AD and was buried in Rome, alongside Apostle Paul’s Tomb. His feast day is celebrated on January 18.
St. Thecla the Martyr Biography |
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| Date of Birth | 30 AD |
|---|---|
| Country of Birth | Turkey |
| Matrimony/Holy Orders | Saints who were Not Married |
| Profession | Missionary |
| Place of Work | Italy |
| Date of Death | Early second century |
| Place of Death | Salerno, Italy |
| Feast Day | January 18 |
| Beatification | N/A |
| Canonization | Canonized by Pre congregation |
| Patron Saint of | Tarragona, Catalonia, Spain |
Saint Thecla the Martyr’s Life History
Thecla was born in 30 AD, in Iconium, present day Konya, Turkey. She was passionate and very attentive to the Pauline teachings and summons on chastity. This however pushed her fiancee and her mother to report her to the authorities alongside Paul for punishment.
Due to this, Paul was driven out of the city and upon Thecla divorcing her fiancee in order to live a chaste life, she was sentenced to be burnt at the stake. Fortunately for her, a storm botched the incident and she was saved. She hastily caught up with Paul and went to Antioch.
While there, a man by the name Alexander, attempted to sexually harass her and she fought back. She was later charged with assault and the punishment given to her was that she was to be fed to the lions.
Lucky for her, a miraculous incident happened. The lionesses protected her while in the arena and she took this opportunity to escape by baptizing herself in to a lake full of aggressive seals and was unharmed, thankfully to the Grace of God.
She joined Paul in Myra, where she spread the gospel, healing the sick, empowering women on the benefits of living a chaste life and persuading people to love God and live a life that pleases him.
It is said that she lived out her life in a cave as a hermitess in Seleucia, Cilicia. It is unclear on when and where she died but she was buried in Rome, next to the tomb of Apostle Paul.
Saint Thecla the Martyr’s Birth
Thecla was born in 30 AD, in Iconium, present day Konya, Turkey.
Saint Thecla the Martyr’s Death
She died in the late 1st century AD and was buried in Rome, alongside Apostle Paul’s Tomb.
Saint Thecla the Martyr’s Profession
She lived as a early chrostian missionary and was the disciple of Apostle Paul.
Saint Thecla the Martyr’s Canonization
She was canonized pre-congregation.
Saint Thecla the Martyr is Venerated in
She is venerated in the Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox and Episcopal Churches and the Coptic Christianity.
Saint Thecla the Martyr’s Feast Day
His feast day is celebrated on January 18.
Major Shrines
Some of her major shrines include; The Tomb of Saint Theca in Maaloula, the Monastery of Saint Tecla in Larnaca and the Catacomb of Saint Tecla in Rome.
Saint Thecla the Martyr is the Patron Saint of
She is the patron saint of Tarragonia, Spain.
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