St. Theodotus, a native of Galatia (Asia Minor), came to the island of Cyprus at the end of the third century to preach Christ. His words and virtuous life had a powerful effect on the pagans. Many believed and, turning to the Lord, appointed Theodotus bishop in the city of Cyrene.
Theodotus ruled the church for many years and, without fear of torture and death, preached Jesus Christ. During the reign of Emperor Licinius, a cruel persecutor of Christians, the regional governor Sabinus ordered the bishop to be summoned to court. Theodotus, having learned of the order, did not wait for those sent for him and appeared before the governor himself. - I am the one you are looking for - he told him. – I am not hiding, but I have come to confess the true God myself.
The governor ordered the bishop to be beaten with thongs and then said to him: "Do you see what your audacity has brought you?" The bishop replied: "If your spiritual eyes were open, you would understand what my courage, which you call audacity, will bring me. But since you are blind, I do not feel the torture, because spiritual joy overcomes physical pain..." - You cannot deceive me - said the governor. - I will torture you until you acknowledge the power of our gods, because I have power over you. - These threats do not disturb me - answered the holy bishop, - because I serve God, Who can help me in my sufferings. The governor ordered the sufferer to be scraped with sharp iron hooks. St. Theodotus patiently endured the tortures and prayed.
After long tortures, he was taken to prison. After a few days, the governor called him again. – "I think - he said - that your first sufferings have proven to you the emptiness of your God and that I should not resort to new tortures. Now you will worship our gods." - I am ready to suffer more - replied the holy Martyr, - because my trust in the Lord is unshakable. The governor ordered the tortures to be intensified even more, still hoping to break the steadfastness of Saint Theodotus. But the bishop continued to pray calmly.
Forgetting his own sufferings, he asked God to grant peace to the Church and patience to the persecuted Christians. Many of those present, seeing his steadfastness, understood the true God. Then the governor ordered Theodotus to be taken to prison. Soon after, Emperor Constantine, having defeated Licinius, ordered the persecution to cease and the Christians imprisoned for their faith in Christ to be released. St. Theodotus was released. After living for two more years as Bishop of Cyrene, he passed away.