Martyr
Martyr Theotychus of Antinoe
† 287
Also known as: Мч. Феотих, Феотих протиктор
The senior of four imperial protectors sent to arrest the converted governor Arrian; he himself confessed Christ and was thrown into the sea with Arrian under Diocletian.
Martyr Theotychus suffered in Egypt under Emperor Diocletian together with the governor Arrian, and is commemorated on 14/27 December with the Martyrs of Antinoe: Philemon, Apollonius and Arrian.
Arrian, a governor in Egypt, had put Apollonius and Philemon to death in Antinoe, but was healed of a wounded eye with earth from Philemon's grave and was baptised with his household. According to the Life retold by St Demetrius of Rostov, Diocletian sent four protectors (armour-bearers) to bring Arrian to trial. When Arrian refused to sacrifice to Apollo and was sentenced to be sewn into a sack with sand and thrown into the sea, the four protectors, the eldest of whom was Theotychus, declared themselves Christians and shared his death. Their bodies were washed ashore near Alexandria and buried by Arrian's servants.
The synaxarion dates the death of Arrian and Theotychus to 4 March 287. The names of the other three protectors have not been preserved.