Who is St. Theklia?

Thecla, who is very much influenced by the sermons given by St. Paulus during his missionary journey to Iconium (Konya), follows him to Myra (Demre). From there, they travel together to Antioch.

It has been recounted by writers in the Early Christianity period that St. Thecla was condemned to death by the non-Christians in an arena of wild animals, and that she was saved from being killed by an interesting miracle. They narrate that the lions in the arena protected St. Thecla from wild animals and helped her escape.

It is also known that St. Thecla made some missionary journeys herself to spread the religion of Christianity and eventually settled down in Seleucia ad Calycadnum (Silifke).

St. Thecla battled against many cults of the time; Minerva (Athena), one of the most powerful gods of the pagan religion in the city of Silifke, Aphrodite and Sarpedonius, the local god of Silifke. She also tried to spread the religion of Christianity through various public sermons.

Because of her deeds and the miracles she worked, the cave and the hill that she lived in is considered a holy place. A monastery as well as a church, to which she lent her name, was built on this hill.

The anecdote as told by Emperor Zenon about St. Thecla is a striking one in that it points to the importance of Thecla in the Christian world. In the year 476 A.D., Zenon who is dethroned by Basiliscus goes to Isauria. There he sees a vision of Thecla, who says that he will reaccede to the throne again. Zenon who prays to St. Thecla promises that if his wish is fulfilled, he will build a big church for this patroness of the Christian belief. Zenon, on returning to Istanbul, has his wish fulfilled and is declared the emperor. The ruins on the hill in present day Meryemlik are those of the big church and the surrounding buildings commissioned originally by Zenon.

St. Thecla was given the same rank as the apostles and is believed to be the first female martyr of Christianity.

The cave, hill, and the church of St. Thecla's retreat became a center for pilgrimage, from the 4th century A.D. For that reason, Silifke became one of the most important religious destinations for Christians.

This importance remains today, and the importance of this Christian saint, was clearly marked by the rituals organized on St. Thecla's day. These included participation of many important people as well as the officiation of a religious ritual by the Fener-Greek Orthodox Partiarch Barthalomeos in this place on the 2000th anniversary of the holy birth of Jesus.

Ancient records state that this saint, who baptized people and found cures for illnesses of the time, disappeared inside a rock within her retreatal cave.

In Rome, in the sacred arena which contains the tombs of the Christian martyrs, a church to honour Hagia Thecla was erected next to St. Paul's Basilica.

Another church was built in Istanbul, in name of this deeply revered saint. This edifice, which today is known as the Atik Mustafa Pasha Mosque, was built during 10th century.

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