E04494: Evagrius Scholasticus in his Ecclesiastical History reports that the emperor Zeno (r. 474-475, and 476-491) had a vision of *Thekla (follower of the Apostle Paul, S00092) in 475/6, and built a magnificent shrine for her at Seleucia (southern Asia Minor) after regaining the imperial throne from the usurper Basiliscus. Written in Greek at Antioch (Syria), 593/594.
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posted on 2017-12-19, 00:00 authored by erizosEvagrius Scholasticus, Ecclesiastical History, 3.8
8. Ζήνων δὲ παροτρύνουσαν ὥς φασι θεασάμενος τὴν ἁγίαν καὶ πολύαθλον πρωτομάρτυρα Θέκλαν καὶ τὴν τῆς βασιλείας ἀποκατάστασιν ὑπισχνουμένην, ἐπὶ τὸ Βυζάντιον στρατεύει δώροις τοὺς πολιορκοῦντας ὑπελθών, καὶ δεύτερον ἔτος τῆς ἀρχῆς κρατήσαντα τὸν Βασιλίσκον ἐξωθεῖται, ἁγίοις τε προσπελάσαντα σηκοῖς τοῖς ἐχθροῖς ἐκδίδωσιν. Οὗτος ὁ Ζήνων μέγιστον τέμενος ἐξοχῇ τε καὶ κάλλει προὖχον ἀνατέθεικε τῇ πρωτομάρτυρι Θέκλῃ ἀνὰ τὴν Σελευκέων τὴν πρὸς τῇ Ἰσαύρων χώρᾳ κειμένην, πλείστοις καὶ βασιλικοῖς ἀναθήμασι διακοσμήσας, τοῖς καὶ μέχρις ἡμῶν σωζομένοις.
‘8. Now Zeno, having seen, as they say, the holy and multiply victorious protomartyr Thekla encouraging and promising him his restoration to the imperial throne, marched on Constantinople and, overcoming with gifts those who attempted to blockade him, he ousted Basiliscus after a reign of two years; even though he had sought sanctuary at a holy church, he handed him over to his enemies. This Zeno dedicated an enormous sanctuary of outstanding grandeur and beauty to the protomartyr Thekla at the city of Seleucia which lies by the country of the Isaurians. He adorned it with plentiful regal dedications which are preserved down to our time.’
Text: Bidez, Parmentier 2011.
Translation: E. Rizos.
8. Ζήνων δὲ παροτρύνουσαν ὥς φασι θεασάμενος τὴν ἁγίαν καὶ πολύαθλον πρωτομάρτυρα Θέκλαν καὶ τὴν τῆς βασιλείας ἀποκατάστασιν ὑπισχνουμένην, ἐπὶ τὸ Βυζάντιον στρατεύει δώροις τοὺς πολιορκοῦντας ὑπελθών, καὶ δεύτερον ἔτος τῆς ἀρχῆς κρατήσαντα τὸν Βασιλίσκον ἐξωθεῖται, ἁγίοις τε προσπελάσαντα σηκοῖς τοῖς ἐχθροῖς ἐκδίδωσιν. Οὗτος ὁ Ζήνων μέγιστον τέμενος ἐξοχῇ τε καὶ κάλλει προὖχον ἀνατέθεικε τῇ πρωτομάρτυρι Θέκλῃ ἀνὰ τὴν Σελευκέων τὴν πρὸς τῇ Ἰσαύρων χώρᾳ κειμένην, πλείστοις καὶ βασιλικοῖς ἀναθήμασι διακοσμήσας, τοῖς καὶ μέχρις ἡμῶν σωζομένοις.
‘8. Now Zeno, having seen, as they say, the holy and multiply victorious protomartyr Thekla encouraging and promising him his restoration to the imperial throne, marched on Constantinople and, overcoming with gifts those who attempted to blockade him, he ousted Basiliscus after a reign of two years; even though he had sought sanctuary at a holy church, he handed him over to his enemies. This Zeno dedicated an enormous sanctuary of outstanding grandeur and beauty to the protomartyr Thekla at the city of Seleucia which lies by the country of the Isaurians. He adorned it with plentiful regal dedications which are preserved down to our time.’
Text: Bidez, Parmentier 2011.
Translation: E. Rizos.
History
Evidence ID
E04494Saint Name
Thekla, follower of the Apostle Paul : S00092Saint Name in Source
ΘέκλαRelated Saint Records
Type of Evidence
Literary - Other narrative texts (including Histories)Language
- Greek
