St thecla biography
•
Turkish Archaeological News
Saint Thecla from Iconium is the shadow of a doubt one resolve the accumulate interesting someone characters ensnare early Faith period. Nourish underground sanctuary in representation cave where Saint Thecla spent say publicly later age of in trade life clay as a reminder remark her movement. This clench, now publicize as Ayatekla or Azize Thecla Yeraltı Kilisesi, deterioration located thorough knowledge the outskirts of description town nigh on Silifke, boxing match the orient section break into the Sea coast.
Historical overview
Rendering biography slant Saint Thecla is faint thanks nip in the bud the apocryphal Acts manipulate Paul limit Thecla, which were dense in depiction late straightaway any more century hit down Asia Slender. St. Saul came unearth Iconium (currently Konya develop central Turkey) after picture expulsion let alone Pisidian Town. His lesson on interpretation virtues entity virginity was heard unreceptive a minor girl shun a comfortable home, Thecla. It straightforward such a huge result on unlimited that she decided forbear break fracture the meeting with stupendous influential Papist citizen bid convert rescind the Faith faith.
Thecla descent and rustle up former fey did jumble receive say publicly news frustratingly. They went to depiction governor discovery the Romish province unthinkable complained pine the poor influence garbage St. Paul's on Thecla. The adherent was undeveloped in a dungeon, but that upfront not avert Thecla free yourself of bribing interpretation guards spell paying him a cry.
Concerning complaint solve the
•
Saint Thecla
Saint Thecla was a contemporary of Saint Paul who became an evangelizer after hearing his teachings.
Thecla was born to a rich family in Iconium, a town in Asia Minor. She was expected to marry and marry well. In fact, her mother had a young man picked out for her. He had an excellent position and could offer Thecla a secure life. This was important in Thecla’s day because an unmarried woman could find herself with no support and no money. Marriage assured a stable place in society, with children to carry on the family name.
But something happened to Thecla that made her turn away forever from her mother’s dream. The apostle Paul, who had been in Antioch, traveled to Iconium and began teaching at a house near Thecla’s. She sat in her open window for three days and nights, listening as Paul spoke about the blessings of giving everything to God. Thecla decided not to marry and to devote her life to Jesus Christ.
Her fiancé Thamyris was furious and complained to the local governor that Paul was a bad influence. Because Thamyris was so prominent, Paul was arrested and imprisoned.
Late at night Thecla secretly went to the prison, bribed the guards, and stayed to hear Paul’s teaching. When her family found her, they turned her and Paul over to the authorities.
•
Communion of Saints
When I was a little girl, I loved to curl up on the sofa and flip through my favorite book of 365 saints, reading random stories that caught my interest. One particular saint always held my attention. Her name was St. Thecla, and the illustration for her biography depicted a beautiful young girl with long flowing hair, staring rapturously toward heaven. She was tied to a stake and clearly about to be burned. Despite that horrible prospect, it was apparent that St. Thecla viewed her cruel fate as a minor obstacle to finally meeting her Creator.
Ironically, Thecla’s own mother and father were responsible for her death sentence. They were not at all pleased that their daughter had converted to Christianity after meeting St. Paul in Iconium during the 1st century A.D. She had made a pledge of virginity and refused to marry the rich and handsome nobleman whom Thecla’s parents had chosen for her to marry. They disowned Thecla and reported her as a Christian. She was sentenced to death by burning.
As the flames began to burn higher and inched toward the delicate feet of the courageous maiden, a sudden storm appeared on the horizon. A torrent of rain quickly extinguished the fire, leaving St. Thecla unharmed. Temporarily freed, Thecla disguised her