died early 4th century
A bishop of Cyrene in Libya, skilled in copying the sacred books, who was betrayed by his own son and martyred under Diocletian together with faithful women who confessed Christ.
The Holy Hieromartyr Theodore, Bishop of Cyrene, and his Companions
Theodore was a bishop of Cyrene in Libya during the reign of the emperor Diocletian (284–305). According to the synaxarion he was an accomplished scribe and calligrapher who transcribed many books for the use of the churches, and the influence of his writings in turning people from idolatry to the Christian faith became the immediate occasion of his arrest. He is commemorated on July 4 together with several companions who suffered alongside him.
By tradition Theodore was denounced to the local authorities by his own son, named Leo (also given as Leontius), who reported to the district governor Dignianus that his father possessed Christian books and was leading people away from the worship of the idols toward faith in Christ. Brought before the governor, Theodore was ordered to surrender his books and to renounce Christ, and he refused both demands.
The accounts relate that he was beaten with rods and subjected to prolonged torture, and that his tongue was cut out; he was then cast into prison, where he died of his wounds. Martyred in connection with him were a number of Christians who had received baptism at his hands, among whom the synaxarion names the women Cyprilla, Lucia, and Aroa.
The tradition makes Theodore's craft central to his witness. He is remembered as a skilled copyist whose manuscripts were valued by the churches, and the synaxarion presents his transcription of Christian books as the very means by which he drew others away from pagan worship. It was therefore his books, rather than any single public act, that his accusers demanded he give up, and his refusal to surrender them is treated as inseparable from his refusal to deny Christ.
Three women are commemorated with Theodore. Greek hagiographical sources describe Cyprilla as a widow of Cyrene who is said to have been healed of an affliction through the bishop's prayers while he was in prison, and who was afterward tortured and put to death. Lucia and Aroa are remembered as having ministered to Theodore in his confinement; the tradition relates that they were beheaded by order of the governor Dignianus. A widow-martyr of Cyrene named Cyrilla, commemorated on July 5, is recorded separately in the calendar and may be the same Cyprilla numbered among Theodore's companions.
Named group; includes women martyrs.