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[[Saint]] Thekla was born in Iconium to wealthy parents. After having heard St. [[Apostle Paul|Paul]] speak on [[chastity]], she decided she must follow [[Christ]] and abandon her plans to marry. Her mother and her fiancé were opposed to this decision, and their accusations to the governor landed St. Paul in prison. St. Thekla slipped away from her house to listen to St. Paul in prison, having bribed the guards with her gold jewelry to gain entrance.
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 [[gospel]] 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.
