ALL SAINTS CELEBRATED IN AUGUST
Saints celebrated on the 2nd of August
SAINT THEODOTA AND COMPANIONS, MARTYRS
During the Diocletian persecution, Saint Theodota died for the Christian faith at Nicaea in Bithynia. She was a widow and had three sons whom she brought up in the fear of God. No doubt she was both of noble stock and wealthy, since the governor Lucatius wanted her in marriage. When she refused his hand, he reported her to the authorities for being a Christian and handed her over to the prefect Nicetius to be sentenced. After subjecting her to severe beatings, which she endured patiently, the pagan then meant to proceed with raping her. But an angel of God struck the libertine who wanted to lay his hands on her so violently in the face that he started bleeding profusely, which made him give up his plan. Theodota then received the death penalty for being a Christian; she perished by burning together with her sons, of whom only one, Evodius (Evedius), is known by name.
The German martyrology of Blessed Canisius* adds that she used to serve the poor during her life, together with the Virgin Anastasia. When Anastasia was languishing in prison, Theodota appeared to her after she had been martyred and brought her heavenly bread into her cell. Church art shows Theodota's death in a torrent of flames. (I. 147–154) Saint Theodota and Companions are also commemorated on December 22.
(Information from Stadler's Complete Encyclopedia of Saints, Volume 5, Augsburg, 1882, p. 479)
*A hagiography source used by the authors
Stadler's Complete Encyclopedia of Saints - Sources and Abbreviations
PRAYER:
Grant, we beseech you, almighty God, that the venerable feast of Saints Theodota, Evodius, and Companions may increase our devotion and promote our salvation. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever. Amen.
➡️ More information about Saint Theodota
Sources of these articles (in the original German): books.google.co.uk, de-academic.com, zeno.org, openlibrary.org
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