Righteous Theodota of Nicaea

Saint Theodota of Nicaea, a native of Cappadocia, was martyred in the city of Nicaea around the year 230, during the reign of Emperor Alexander Severus. When the local governor Samvlikios learned of her unwavering Christian faith, he tried to force her to sacrifice to idols. For refusing, she was cruelly tortured — her flesh torn with iron hooks — and imprisoned, yet after eight days her wounds were found miraculously healed. The governor then ordered her cast into a blazing furnace, but the flames burst outward and scorched the surrounding pagans, while witnesses saw Theodota standing unharmed amid the fire together with two youths in white garments. Neither red-hot iron nor a saw could harm her; when she was brought into a pagan temple, the idols fell and shattered at her prayer. Unable to break her resolve, Samvlikios ordered her beheaded, and her body was buried by Bishop Sophronius of Nicaea. She should not be confused with another martyr of the same name, Theodotia of Nicaea, who suffered later, in 304.