Prince Theodore
(Amir Tadros El Shatebi)
During the first few centuries of Christianity, martyrdom was a fact of life for those who confessed their faith in Jesus Christ. Persecutions raged over the whole Roman Empire; some were widespread while others were confined to local area B � Egypt gave more martyrs than any other country in the world, and thus our fathers became a living example on how to be a faithful member in the Church of Christ.
During the reign of Emperor Lucinius, the ruler of the EasternProvinces of the Roman Empire (313 A.D.), Prince Theodore E1 Shatebi was martyred. His courage and endurance prompted thousands of people to adopt Christianity.
Prince Theodore was born in 281 in Achaea, a port city, on the Black Sea. Later, he lived in Herculea, in Asia Minor. His father John was a Christian Egyptian from a city called Shateb in Upper Egypt.
The Father was a soldier in the Roman army. He went to Antioch to fight against the Persians. And because he was a man of courage he was given the prince's daughter Oussawaia to be his wife. Oussawaia gave birth to a child and named him Theodore. In the meantime Oussawaia tried 8c hard to attract her husband John to Idol worshiping, but John had a strong faith in our Lord Jesus. Nevertheless, his wife used to derogate him by saying that her father the prince bought him as a slave and gave him a princess (herself) for a wife, and that he was not grateful. John felt always humiliated and not welcome in his own house. He used to pray and ask for God's help and guidance.
In his sleep, he saw a vision. An angel appeared to him and said, "Do not be afraid John. Leave your pagan wife, and return to your country. Do not worry about your son Theodore. He will become a great Christian, and because of his strong faith, thousands will believe in Lord Jesus."
John left his house and went back to Egypt, but he never stopped praying for his son. On the other hand, Theodore was always ead when he learned that his father had been kicked out of the house because of his faith in our Lord Jesus. One day he told his mother that his father's God was crucified to save the world, but her idol was 80 weak that it could not even defend itself. Then he pushed the idol to the floor and the statue broke into pieces. A bad spirit came out of the idol in the form of a black giant and burned into smoke in front of them.
Prince Theodore was baptized by a priest called Oliganos at the age of fifteen. He was filled with the Holy Spirit, and because of his boldness and courage in the battles, he became very famous. When Diocletian heard about him, he appointed him a commander over five hundred knights, and called him, Prince Theodore The Esphehlar (8rave Commander).
One day after Prince Theodore and his soldiers had fought a fierce battle in the desert, they ran out of water, and were about to die from thirst. Prince Theodore prayed earnestly and said, "My Lord Jesus who gave the Israelites water from the solid rock, please quench our thirst," And suddenly, a strong wind blew, and heavy rain started falling. After the soldiers drank as much as they wanted, they knelt down before the Prince, and said, "Blessed is your True God Jesus, who answered your prayer with great might." On that day they were all baptized in Jesus' name.
Later, an angel of the Lord appeared to Theodore and told him to travel to Egypt to see his father. The prince was very happy to learn that his father was still alive. He took some of his faithful soldiers and sailed to Alexandria. Then they walked to Elbehna and went straight to the church of Shateb to ask about the prince's father, John.
At that time the father was old and was lying sick in bed. Nevertheless, it was a very emotional reunion. Five days later, the father died, and the prince buried him. Theodore told the people of that city that his wish was to be buried beside his father, because he knew that he would soon die asXa martyr.
Prince Theodore left Egypt, and went back to Antioch. After his departure, the Egyptians built a pillar on the River Nile's bank. On top of the pillar they hung the picture of the saint, whom they loved.
Shortly after, Prince Theodore went to fight the Persians and with him there was another saint called Prince Theodore E1 Mishriky. In the battlefield, the Archangel Michael appeared to encourage and support them. After they defeated the enemy, The Emperor proclaimed Prince Theodore EL Shatebi to be the Hero of the Roman Empire, and appointed him a ruler of the city of Otichos.
In Otichos a demon possessed dragon (maybe a large crocodile) lived in the nearby mountains. The people feared that dragon very much to the point that they used to throw children to nim to satisfy his appetite.
At that time, they took two children, from a Christian widow, to offer them as a sacrifice to the great dragon. The woman wept and prayed to God to save her children. Then, she heard a voice saying, "Dontt be afraid. Theodore iB capable of saving your children." After the saint heard the woman's story, he set of. immediately to kill the dragon. On his horse, he fought the dragon for an hour. Then, Michael the Archange] appeared to him and helped him until the dragon was killed. The people of the city were very happy to get rid of the evil dragon, and many were baptized in the name of Lord Jesus Christ.
The idols' priests complained to Emperor Lucinius, who ordered St. Theodore to renounce Christ, or face death. When the saint refused to offer sacrifices to the idols, he was tortured in many cruel ways, but the Archangel Michael used to appear to comfort him, and remind him of Jesus' promise, and the eternal glory that is waiting for him.
At the end, the king ordered the soldiers to cut his head by the sword, and to burn the body. The salnt prayed, "My Lord, God, and Savior Jesus ChrLst, accept my spirit, and protect my body from the fire, 80 that everyone may know that You are the real God. To You is the power and the glory forever."
Suddenly the Lord of Glory Himself appeared to the Prince in a cloud. He told him, "My beloved Theodore, come to your eternal rest in the Kingdom of Heaven. You have been crowned with the great crown of martyrdom. The fire will not burn your body, for miracles and wonders will be performed through your blessed body, and also through the mentioning of your name."
After Prince Theodore died, his mother Oussawaia carried his body to Egypt, and buried it beside his father's, in the city of Shateb.
Today, more than ever miracles do happen through the intercession of this great saint. Maythe prayers and the blessings of Prince Theodore the Martyr be with us all. Amen.