The holy martyr Theodotus and the seven maidens – Tekusa, Faina, Claudia, Matrona, Julia, Alexandra, and Euphrasia – lived in Ancyra, in the Galatian region, and bravely suffered for Christ in the early 4th century. Theodotus, being an innkeeper, achieved high spiritual perfection, maintaining purity and chastity, and helped Christians by sheltering them from persecution.
During the persecutions of Emperor Diocletian, the governor Theotekhn demanded that Christians offer sacrifices to idols, threatening them with torture and death. Theodotus, despite the dangers, continued to support the believers, assisted in churches, and secretly preserved the relics of the holy martyrs.
The seven holy maidens, among whom was Tekusa, Theodotus' aunt, refused to renounce Christ and were subjected to tortures, and then drowned in a lake. Tekusa appeared to Theodotus in a dream, asking him to bury their bodies. Theodotus, with the Christians, was able to secretly retrieve the bodies of the maidens and bury them with honor.
When the governor learned of the abduction, he began to persecute the Christians. Theodotus was captured and, despite torture, confessed his faith. Eventually, he was executed, but his body was not burned due to a storm. A priest named Fronton, passing by, learned of Theodotus' body and, with God's help, buried it in the place indicated by the martyr himself.
Saint Theodotus accepted martyrdom on June 7, 303 or 304, and his memory is celebrated on May 18, the day of the death of the holy maidens.
