Saint Martyr Theoctenus lived during the reign of the Emperor Maximian and was a general in Antioch.
He refused to offer sacrifices to the pagan gods and, for his steadfastness, was subjected to numerous humiliations. The emperor ordered that he be dressed in women’s clothing and forced to spin wool. However, the saint resisted firmly and refused to submit.
He was subsequently subjected to terrible tortures. His feet were burned, and he was thrown into a cauldron of boiling pitch, from which he emerged unharmed. While in prison, he helped a faithful Christian woman named Alexandra to escape. For this act, he was severely punished, until he was eventually thrown into the sea with a stone tied around his neck.
His holy relics were discovered near the city of Rousova in Cilicia, where he was given a Christian burial.
