Thecla (c.30-?)
Like Lydia from last week, Thecla was also closely associated with the Apostle Paul. According to the 3rd- century text, The Acts of Paul and Thecla, Thecla, a noblewoman, converted to Christianity while sitting at her bedroom window listening to Paul’s preaching in praise of chastity next door.[1] Leaving her life of privilege, she followed Paul and endured persecution and great suffering for the sake of Christ, often narrowly escaping with her life.[2] Thecla’s story as we have it is probably fictitious as it so closely resembles ancient pagan romances, but it is likely a female leader by this name did exist on whom these legends were formed.[3] The particular embellishments attached to Thecla’s story gives us a glimpse into how women were talked about, perceived, and understood at the time, as well as what was considered virtuous and illustrious.
Thecla rejected the ordinary life set before her by her family and her fiancé for the life of faith, which for her included celibacy and asceticism.[4] She was hailed for generations as an example of a faithful disciple. Church Father Origen of Alexandria (c.184-c.253) considered Thecla’s story on par with John’s Gospel and Paul’s Letter to the Galatians.[5] Athanasius (c.296-373), Bishop of Alexandria, visited Thecla’s shrine at Seleucia and upheld her as a model for women, especially the local nuns.[6] As a woman who was renowned to be empowered spiritually and liberated socially by chastity, she lived on as an ideal in later biographical portraits of historical women, who followed in her example. [7] These include, Olympias, Melanie the Elder, and Macrina, who was said to have “Thecla” as her secret name.[8] In the 380s, the pilgrim Egeria, who warrants a post of her own, travelled to the Holy Land and visited Hagia Thecla, a site in Thecla’s honour.[9]
Whether Thecla was real, imagined, or a woman whose story was embellished, we glean from the popularity of her story what criteria were deemed remarkable and even legendary for women and Christians. Thecla served as inspiration for what was possible. Evidence suggests Thecla was a role model for centuries to follow; she continues to be celebrated in some Christian traditions as a venerated saint. Her legacy of discipleship was in choosing heavenly over earthly riches and perseverance through devotion to God despite impossible circumstances. She continues to inspire and invite people to follow Jesus wholly through her legacy today, as does our next example, Blandina.
Sources:
[1] Oden, Amy, ed. 1995. In Her Words, 21. Great Britain: Abingdon Press, and Kroeger, “The Neglected History of Women in the Early Church.”
[2] Kroeger, The Neglected History of Women in the Early Church.
[3] Kroeger, The Neglected History of Women in the Early Church.
[4] Cohick, Christian Women in the Patristic World, 20.
[5] Muir, A Women’s History of the Christian Church, 31.
[6] Muir, A Women’s History of the Christian Church, 31.
[7] Miller, Patricia Cox, ed. 2005. Women in Early Christianity, 9-10. Washington, DC: The Catholic university of America Press.
[8] Miller, Women in Early Christianity, 9-10.
[9] Muir, A Women’s History of the Christian Church, 31-32.