Saint Theodore was a Roman general in the army of Emperor Licinius and the mayor of Heraclius. All this, along with his youth, he exchanged for terrible torments for the sake of Christ. First, he received 600 lashes on the back and 500 on the stomach, then he was lifted onto a cross and pierced with arrows. Finally, he was beheaded with a sword. All this because he broke idols of silver and gold and distributed their pieces to the poor, and because he called on the superstitious Emperor Licinius himself to renounce dead idols and believe in the one living God. Throughout his torture, he constantly said: “Glory to You, my God, glory to You.” He suffered in 319. His miraculous relics were transferred from Euchaita to Constantinople. He is considered the patron saint of soldiers.

Holy Prophet Zechariah. Saint Sava II, Archbishop of Serbia.