Journey to Pascha- Lesson #11: The Theological Significance of the First Saturday of Great Lent: Commemoration of St. Theodore the Recruit

 

Introduction: Why This Feast is Placed at the Beginning of Great Lent

The First Saturday of Great Lent is dedicated to the Commemoration of St. Theodore the Recruit (Tyron), a 3rd–4th century Christian martyr who is honored for his steadfast faith and miraculous intercession. This commemoration, established in the 9th century, marks an event where St. Theodore miraculously intervened to protect Orthodox Christians from consuming food defiled by the Byzantine Emperor Julian the Apostate (361–363 AD).

This feast was placed at the beginning of Great Lent because it reinforces two major theological and spiritual themes:

1. God’s protection over the faithful as they begin the Lenten fast.
2. The importance of vigilance and purity in both physical and spiritual nourishment, preparing the faithful for the ascetic struggle of Lent.

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1. The Historical Event Behind the Commemoration

Who Was St. Theodore the Recruit?

• St. Theodore was a young Roman soldier in the army of Emperor Maximian (286–305 AD).
• He was secretly a Christian and refused to offer sacrifices to pagan gods.
• As punishment, he was imprisoned, tortured, and burned alive, receiving the martyr’s crown.

The Miracle During the Reign of Julian the Apostate

• In 361 AD, Emperor Julian the Apostate sought to undermine Christianity by defiling the food in the marketplaces with blood from pagan sacrifices during the first week of Lent.
• St. Theodore appeared in a vision to Patriarch Eudoxius of Constantinople, warning him of the emperor’s scheme.
• He instructed the faithful to avoid the contaminated food and instead boil wheat (kollyva) and eat it for nourishment.
• This event became the foundation for the custom of blessing and eating kollyva (boiled wheat) on this Saturdayin honor of St. Theodore’s intercession.

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2. The Theological and Liturgical Significance

A. Protection of the Fast and the Purity of the Faith

The miracle of St. Theodore emphasizes the need for spiritual vigilance at the very start of Great Lent. Just as the early Christians were protected from defiled food, so too are the faithful reminded to guard their spiritual lives during Lent by avoiding both:

• Physical impurity (unclean foods, breaking the fast carelessly).
• Spiritual impurity (sin, distractions, and temptations).

St. Theodore’s intervention reminds us that fasting is not only about food but about preserving the soul’s purity from corruption and compromise.

B. The Role of Martyrs in the Lenten Journey

• The Church places the remembrance of St. Theodore at the beginning of Lent to show that the Lenten struggle mirrors the spiritual warfare of the martyrs.
• Just as martyrs endured suffering and sacrifice, so too are the faithful called to endure the struggle of fasting, prayer, and repentance as a form of spiritual martyrdom.
• St. Theodore’s story highlights the victory of faith over persecution, foreshadowing the ultimate victory of Christ’s Resurrection at Pascha.

C. Kollyva as a Symbol of Resurrection and Theosis

• Kollyva (boiled wheat) is a powerful Christian symbol:
  • It represents the cycle of life, death, and resurrection, just as wheat is buried, grows, and bears fruit.
  • This foreshadows Pascha, when Christ, the "grain of wheat" (John 12:24), will rise from the dead.
  • The faithful partake of kollyva as a sign of renewal, preparing them to partake of the resurrected life of Christ through fasting and repentance.

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3. Liturgical Elements of the First Saturday of Lent

A. Special Canon to St. Theodore

• During Matins, a special canon is chanted in honor of St. Theodore, asking for his intercession and protection.

B. The Blessing of Kollyva

• After the Divine Liturgy, a tray of kollyva (boiled wheat with honey, nuts, and raisins) is blessed and distributed to the faithful.
• This reminds the faithful of the miracle of St. Theodore and the importance of spiritual purity during the fast.

C. Scripture Readings

• Epistle: 2 Timothy 2:1-10 – Encourages endurance and faithfulness in suffering, just as St. Theodore endured martyrdom.
• Gospel: John 15:17-16:2 – Jesus warns of persecution but promises victory for those who remain faithful, just as St. Theodore did.

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4. Application to the Lenten Journey

The commemoration of St. Theodore on the First Saturday of Great Lent teaches us:

1. Fasting requires vigilance – Just as the faithful had to guard against defiled food, we must guard our minds and hearts from spiritual corruption.
2. Suffering in Lent mirrors the suffering of the martyrs – Fasting is a form of spiritual martyrdom, teaching us to die to ourselves and live for Christ.
3. God provides for those who trust in Him – The provision of kollyva shows that when we commit to the spiritual struggle, God sustains us with His grace.

This first Saturday of Lent sets the tone for the entire season, reminding us that fasting is not just an external discipline but a means of spiritual purification and transformation, leading us ultimately to the joy of Christ’s victory at Pascha.

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Conclusion

The First Saturday of Great Lent, dedicated to St. Theodore the Recruit, is a powerful reminder that God protects, provides for, and strengthens His people as they begin their Lenten journey. The miraculous blessing of the kollyva emphasizes the importance of spiritual vigilance, perseverance, and purity, while the memory of St. Theodore’s martyrdom encourages the faithful to embrace the struggle of fasting and repentance as a means of victory over sin. As we partake of the blessed wheat, we are reminded that, just as a grain of wheat dies and brings forth new life, so too must we die to sin so that we may rise with Christ in His Resurrection .