Holy Martyr Theodotus of Ancyra (+303)

The holy Martyr Theodotus of Ancyra lived in Ancyra of Galatia in the third century and was distinguished by wonderful kindness and compassion. He felt for the Christians persecuted by Diocletian (284–305) and sheltered them in his house, where divine services were also held in secret. Saint Theodotus visited in the prisons those held for confessing Christ, ransomed them, and buried with honour the bodies of martyrs scattered to be torn apart by beasts. Once the saint took the bodies of seven virgin martyrs out of the water and buried them. When this was reported to the governor, Theodotus was seized. The holy martyr refused to offer sacrifice, exposed the emptiness of the pagans’ religion, and openly confessed Christ. For this he was cruelly tortured and put to the sword (+303). The tormentors wanted to burn the holy martyr’s body, but suddenly a storm arose and they could not light the fire. The martyr of Christ was committed to the earth according to Christian rite.