Martyr 4th century

Virgin Martyr Theodosia of Tyre

Died c. 307 (Caesarea in Palestine)

Also known as Theodosia of Tyre · Theodora of Tyre

A young Christian woman of about seventeen who, during the persecution under Diocletian, openly encouraged condemned Christians at Caesarea in Palestine. She was seized, tortured, and cast into the sea, receiving the crown of martyrdom in the early 4th century.

Feast Day

April 3

Also May 29

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Commemorated as

The Holy Virgin-Martyr Theodosia of Tyre

Life

Theodosia was a young Christian woman of Tyre, not yet eighteen years of age, who suffered martyrdom at Caesarea in Palestine during the persecution under the emperor Diocletian. Her death is recorded by the historian Eusebius of Caesarea, an eyewitness to the persecutions in Palestine, in his work the Martyrs of Palestine.

According to the account, she openly approached a group of condemned Christians who were confessing Christ before the judgment seat, saluted them, and asked to be remembered in their prayers. She was seized, tortured, and finally cast into the sea, receiving the crown of martyrdom in the early fourth century.

Timeline 2 moments Read Hide

c. 307 Confession at Caesarea Theodosia, a faithful maiden of Tyre not yet eighteen years old, went up to certain prisoners who were confessing the kingdom of Christ as they sat before the judgment seat at Caesarea, saluted them, and asked to be remembered in their prayers.
c. 307 Arrest, torture, and martyrdom The governor Urbanus had her seized at once. According to Eusebius she was tortured with terrible torments in her sides and breasts, even to the bones, and when she still stood with a joyful countenance she was ordered to be thrown into the waves of the sea.

Contributions & Legacy

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Martyrdom

The setting of Theodosia's death was Caesarea Maritima in Palestine, during the years of the Diocletianic persecution when Christians were ordered to sacrifice to the Roman gods on pain of death. By the account preserved by Eusebius, Theodosia came of her own will to the confessors awaiting judgment and openly identified herself with them.

The governor, identified as Urbanus, ordered her to be tortured severely in her sides and breasts. When she endured the torments and remained steadfast, refusing to renounce her faith, he ordered her cast into the sea. Eusebius records that the same governor afterward condemned a number of other confessors to forced labor in the copper mines at Phaeno in Palestine.

Veneration

Theodosia is venerated as a virgin-martyr of the early Church. In the Greek tradition her principal feast is observed on April 2, while the Orthodox Church in America commemorates her on April 3; she is also commemorated on May 29.

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