Ayia Thecla

Saint Thecla    (Hecla in Icelandic)

This equal-to-the–apostles saint, or Protomartyr was born in Iconion, Asia Minor on 16 A.D. to wealthy parents. When she was 18, St.Paul with St. Barnabas visited her community to preach the new Faith. Her mother and Thamyris, her fiancé, prohibited her to attend the crowds that gathered to hear St. Paul. However, Thecla managed to hear the preaching by sitting close to her bedroom window. She got very interested in what St. Paul was teaching about. Her mother became very suspicious and convinced the city Governor to arrest St. Paul and throw him into a prison. Thecla used her golden bracelet to bribe the guard and gain admittance to the prison cell where St.Paul was to be able to hear more of his teachings. Now her mother became enraged at this development and asked the Governor to threaten Thecla with severe punishment. The Governor complied with this wish and ruled that Thecla was to be burned at the stake unless she renounced her faith in Christ.

When Thecla refused she was taken to the arena for punishment. As she was tied to the stake she saw a vision of Jesus Christ which gave her strength to face the flames. When the flames were about to engulf her a thunderstorm appeared suddenly and extinguished the fire ! In grave embarrassment the Governor released Thecla and ordered her out of the city.

She joined St. Paul and both traveled to Antioch. Upon entering this city Alexander, a young nobleman started harassing Thecla, but she fought him off thus disgracing him in front of a crowd of his friends. Alexander complained to the local Governor that this wandering girl had disgraced a nobleman and demanded punishment. The Governor ruled that Thecla would face the wild beasts in the arena. First a lioness was released, but upon approaching Thecla she sat by her feet. Then a bear was released but the lioness fought the bear off and killed her. A male lion was then released and a big fight arose that killed both animals. Finally other wild animals were let loose, but in the meantime, Thecla noticed a large tank of water was near her and she managed to jump in it just in time.

Seeing that no harm can be done on her Alexander demanded that she be given to him for punishment. He tied her into two bulls in the hopes that they would pull her asunder, but miraculously the ropes loosened and she was spared. The authorities finally released Thecla and she stayed for 8 days with a lady called Tryphaena. Both Tryphaena and her entire household were converted to Christianity and presented Thecla with a gift of gold and precious stones.

Thecla then traveled to Myra where she rejoined Paul. He gave his blessing and Thecla spent the remainder of her life as an ascetic in the mountains. The remains of a monastery where she probably stayed survives to this day near the city of Selefkia, in southern Asia Minor. It is called Olbia. She died at the age of ninety. The church acknowledged her enormous contribution to Christianity by converting so many people and setting herself as an example of how to live in faith.