Weekly Trinity journal., 1859-01-22
NUMBER |.
ThccIn, of Antioch.

year 500, relates that when the Emperor Ieno had
abdcated his throne he had vision of the mar
tyr Theca, who promised its restoration, and af
ter the prediction was fulfilled the Emperor built
magnificent temple at Salencia in honor of the
martyr The story, of which the following is u
condensation, is preserved in Greek manuscript
at Oxford, and is said to have been the work of IL
presbyter Of ASIA contemporary with accredited
writings of primitive Christians,
When Paul was preaching in private house at
Iconium, "a beautiful young girl sat at an oppo-
site window and became so transdyed with the
eloquence of the Apostle that she refused to be
removed, or even to recognise any of her friends.
Having been betrothcd to u citizen of lconium,
she refused to receive him, and resolved on life
long chastity Thamyris, the rejected sutor,
caused the Apostle to be driven ont of the city,
but the virgin Thcch abandoned her relatives,
aud, with the family of II ncighhor followed tho
preacher to a cave. But, previously Theco had
been tried for sacrclcgc, and surrendered by her
mother to be burnt Thcca osccnded the pile OF
wood and straw, hut the flames inclined away
from her person, until n miraculous shower Of
rain and hail put ont the fire, aud the persecu-
tors, in terror let her go. Following Paul to An
toch, n certain magistrate, Alexander, fell In
love with Thccla, and having publicly kissed her.
she tore his coat and the crown from his head aud
made him look ridiculous before the people, for
which he ordered her to be thrown to the wild
beasts IN the amphthcater. But Thecla found
female friend in her trouble -TriGnO, q rich wild
ow Of Antioch, who lodged and treated hcrkind-
ly Traua had lost her daughter, aud being SO
odmonishcd by the spirit of her child In dream.
adopted Thccla the condemned, and went with
her to execution, saying :" | went with my
daughter Fnlconlla to the grave, and now must
90 with Thecla TO the beasts The rabble IN
the amphithcatre chmmorcd for the spectacle,
but when the women saw The beautiful victim,
they cried out with imprecatons ON the cruelty
of the city But Theea, nearly naked, stepped
couragcously into the arena, and Immediately II
fierce shelton ran aud laid down at her feet
then huge bear came towards her, but the sho-
lion tore the bear TO pieces then he-liOn noted
for having killed many prisoners, sprang in, but
the she-lon encountered him and they fought till
both lay dead At the death Of Thccla's friend
row, but as other beasts were let in, the girl
stood with her hands stretched TO Heaven, aud
they harmed her not. Afterwards she was tied
to fierce bulls, which were tortured with hot
irons, but miraculous flames burned off the cords
and Thecla was saved. In the meantime Tri0na,
Thcclas widowed friend, toll in terror from her
seat among the spectators aud was taken up for
dead at which there was great consternotlon for
Tridna was a knswoman of Caesar, who they said,
would avenge her death by the city's destruction.
Thecla was ordered from the arena by the COVER
nor who commanded her clothes TO be put on, to
whom the triumphant prisoner said May that
God who clothed me when was naked among
the beasts, in the day of judgment clothe your
soul with the robe Of salvation p Then all the
women shouted for joy until the whole city seem
ed to be shaken by The sound, aud the cry brought
rriina to life.
Theca returned to her native city, and found
her betrothed dead, but her mother refused to
recognize her aud she again started away,
bright cloud directing her course. Ascending
Noun. Calamon, she abode many years in cave
healing all the sick, so that her fame having gone
abroad, the physicians of the country conspired
to cause the debauch Of the virgin whom they
thought a priestess Of Diana, believing that there
after Thccla would no longer have power to des'
troy their business by healing the sick, but when
the rufians came to her cave, Thecla said =:
"1hough am mean old women yet am II
servant Of Christ young men, have patience,
see! aud having prayed, the rock opened and
the aged saint entering the cleft the rock
closed again, so solid that no seam was TO ba
found, cutting off piece of her gown wherewith
many miracles were wrought thereafter. Thus
ended her life at the age of ninety, having testified
to the truth seventy. two years.