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Thecla is probably one of the earliest saints in the world, as the story comes to us from St. Paul. Basil the bishop of Seleucia also wrote a full account of St. Thecla. The apocryphal "Acts of St. Paul and Thecla", contains some information about St. Paul's stay in Iconium. This account says, Thecla lived in Iconium, and on St. Paul's visit to the city, she pestered St. Paul to baptize her, resulting in an outcry and both be brought before the magistrate of the city. eventually, St. Paul was condemned to be beaten and exiled from the city, and Thecla was sentenced to death by burning. However, a timely rain put out the fire and saved Thecla's life. This time, Thecla disguised herself as a boy, and followed St. Paul to Pisidian Antiochwhere came to the attention of the authorities and once more sentenced to death, to be thrown to the lions. She again managed to escape and went down to Seleucia ( modern Silifke ) in disappointment where she lived in a cave and spent her final years. Later, this grotto became a popular place of pilgrimage, and a church was built nearby her cave whose remains are still visible. |
