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[[Image:Thekla the Protomartyr.jpg|right|frame|St. Thekla the Protomartyr, Equal-to-the-Apostles]]
The holy, glorious and right-victorious [[Protomartyr]] '''Thekla''' (or ''Thecla'') the [[Equal-to-the-Apostles]] devoted her life to God at a time when all Christians were shunned. Her [[feast day]] is celebrated on [[September 24]]. The Church has given her the title [[Equal-to-the-Apostles]] for her [[missionary]] zeal in [[evangelizing]] pagans.
==Life==
At his trial, St. Paul was banished from the city, and Thekla refused to change her mind against all the tears, threats, and reasonings her mother and the governor could apply. She was firm in her conviction to follow Jesus Christ the Bridegroom. Her mother, enraged, persuaded the judge to sentence St. Thekla to burn to death. Emboldened by her love for Christ, she made the [[sign of the Cross]] over the flames, and was surrounded by a light, untouched by the flames. Rain, and hail extinguished the fire, and, with thunder, helped to drive away those who wished to put Thekla to death.
She sought out St. Paul and his companions, including St. [[Apostle Barnabas|Barnabas]], who were hiding in a cave near the city. She spread the [[gospelGospel]] of Christ with them in [[Church of Antioch|Antioch]], and throughout her life performed many [[miracle|miraculous]] feats and suffered many tortures to give glory to God. Having retired to a desolate region of Isaurian Seleucia with the blessing of St. Paul, Thekla continued to preach God's word and heal His children.
When St. Thekla had reached the age of 90, envious pagan sorcerors came to defile her. A large rock split open when St. Thekla called on Christ the Savior to help her, and the rock covered her, and she offered up her soul to the Lord.
:You turned a burning fire into refreshing dew,
:And with your prayers appeased pagan fury, O First Woman Martyr!
==See also==
*[[Evangelist]]
*[[Missionary]]
==External Links and Sources==
*[http://www.antiochianantiochianvillage.org/VillageCampcamp/saintsliturgical/Thekla patron/stthekla.html St. Thekla the Protomartyr] ([[Antiochian Village]])
*[http://ocafs.oca.org/FeastSaintsViewer.asp?SID=4&ID=1&FSID=102715 Holy Protomartyr and Equal of the Apostles Thekla] ([[OCA]])
*[http://goarch.org/en/chapel/saints.aspsaints_view?contentid=216 Thekla the Protomartyr & Equal-to-the-Apostles] ([[GOARCH]])*"Come and See " Icons, Books & Art: St. TheklaIcons: [http://www.comeandseeicons.com/t/phi08.htm], [http://www.comeandseeicons.com/t/dtg02.htm], and [http://www.comeandseeicons.com/t/bmp17.htm], by the hand of Nicholas Papas
[[Category:Martyrs]]
[[Category:Saints]]
[[Category:Ante-Nicene Saints]]
[[Category:2nd-century saints]]
[[ro:Tecla]]
