Martyrdom of Thecla, by Symeon Metaphrastes

Martyrium Theclae, auctore Symeone Metaphrasta

Standard abbreviation: Mart. Thec.

Other titles: none

Clavis numbers: ECCA 206

Category: Apocryphal Acts

Compiled by: Tony Burke, York University

Citing this resource (using Chicago Manual of Style): Burke, Tony. “Martyrdom of Thecla by Symeon Metaphrastes.” e-Clavis: Christian Apocrypha. Accessed DAY MONTH YEAR. https://www.nasscal.com/e-clavis-christian-apocrypha/martyrdom-of-thecla-by-symeon-metaphrastes/.

Created July 2022. Current as of January 2024.

1. SUMMARY

Symeon’s tenth-century rewriting of the Acts of Paul and Thecla follows the structure of his model text quite faithfully—even Paul’s pro-ascetic beatitudes remain largely intact, as does Thecla’s declaration of self-baptism as she leaps into the pool of seals.

The only new material appears at the end of the text. Whereas the Acts of Paul and Thecla ends with Thecla’s return to Iconium, brief reunion with her mother, and subsequent departure to Seleucia, Mart. Thec. expands the Iconium visit with mention of Thecla’s unsuccessful attempt to convert her mother to belief in Christ. This failure is attributed to the influence of a demon (described as an “Ethiopian”). Thecla then moves on to Daphne, and finally reaches Seleucia. Here the author draws upon traditions of Thecla’s death found also in the Life and Miracles of Thecla and the Virtuous Deeds of Thecla. She settles in a cave on a hill called Calamon or Rhodion. As her esteem grows, many noble women leave the city and join her in a life of asceticism. People come to her to be healed, which is a cause of concern for Selucia’s physicians, who worry about their loss of income. They believe Thecla to be a priestess of Artemis and is able to heal because she is a virgin; they think that Thecla will lose her powers if she loses her virginity. So they send young, unscrupulous, licentious men to Thecla’s cave in order to rape her. When the men knock at her door and announce their intentions, Thecla prays to God for rescue, and a voice responds, telling her to enter the rock, which has split, and there find her rest. The rock closes behind her, leaving only her veil behind. The text concludes with a brief timeline of her career: she was 18 when she was led to martyrdom, spent 72 years living in isolation, and died at the age of 90.

Named Historical Figures and Characters: Alexander (of Antioch), Castellius (governor), Demas (heretic), Falconilla, Hermias, Hermogenes, Jesus Christ, Onesiphorus, Thamyris, Thecla, Theocleia, Titus, Tryphaena.

Geographical Locations: Antioch, Calamon, Daphne (Asia Minor), Iconium, Myra, Rhodion, Seleucia, Syria.

2. RESOURCES

2.1 Art and Iconography

Altarpiece and Chapel of Thecla, Tarragona Cathedral: images based on the Thecla traditions appear on a twelfth-century altar, a fifteenth-century altarpiece, and in reliefs decorating the eighteenth-century Chapel of Thecla.

3. BIBLIOGRAPHY

3.1 Manuscripts and Editions

3.1.1 Greek (BHG 1719); aprox. 90 manuscripts in existence, including the following:

Athens, Ethnikē Bibliothēkē tēs Hellados, 224, fols. 59^v–63^r (14th cent.) ~ Pinakes

Athens, Ethnikē Bibliothēkē tēs Hellados, 976, fols. 110^r–119^r (12th cent.) ~ Pinakes

Athens, Ethnikē Bibliothēkē tēs Hellados, 978, fols. 147^r–158^v (11th cent.) ~ Pinakes; EBE

Athens, Ethnikē Bibliothēkē tēs Hellados, 988, fols. 194^r–208^r (16th cent.) ~ Pinakes

Athens, Ethnikē Bibliothēkē tēs Hellados, 995, fols. 179^r–188^v (14th/15th cent.) ~ Pinakes

Athens, Ethnikē Bibliothēkē tēs Hellados, 1006, fols. 206^v–223^r (16th cent.) ~ Pinakes; EBE

Athens, Ethnikē Bibliothēkē tēs Hellados, 1045, fols. 114^v–124^r (16th cent.) ~ Pinakes

Athens, Ethnikē Bibliothēkē tēs Hellados, 2095, fols. 141^r–152^v (12th cent.) ~ Pinakes; EBE

Athens, Ethnikē Bibliothēkē tēs Hellados, 2097, fols. 157^r–167^r (12th cent.) ~ Pinakes

Athens, Ethnikē Bibliothēkē tēs Hellados, 2109, fols. 167^v–180^r (14th cent.) ~ Pinakes

Athens, Ethnikē Bibliothēkē tēs Hellados, 2541, fols. 73^v–79^v (14th cent.) ~ Pinakes

Athens, Ethnikē Bibliothēkē tēs Hellados, 2559, fols. 180^v–194^r (11th cent.) ~ Pinakes

Belgium, Bibliothèque Royale Albert Ier, 8229 (3334), fols. 85–90^v, 93–97^v (17th/18th cent.) ~ Pinakes

Chicago, University of Chicago, Joseph Regenstein Library, 938, fols. 162^r–173^v (11th/12th cent.)

Escorial, Real Biblioteca, y.II.05 (Andrés 313), fols. 133^r–143^v (12th cent.) ~ Pinakes

Escorial, Real Biblioteca, y.II.08 (Andrés 316), fols. 117^v–130^r (12th cent.) ~ Pinakes

Escorial, Real Biblioteca, y.II.09 (Andrés 317), fols. 137^r–147^v (12th cent.) ~ Pinakes

Florence, Biblioteca Medicea Laurenziana, Plut. 11.20, fols. 147–158 (11th cent.) ~ Pinakes; BML

Mount Athos, Bibliothēkē tou Prōtatou (Karues), 2 (Lambros 2), fols. 34–39^v (11th cent.) ~ Pinakes

Mount Athos, Monē Batopediou, 74, fols. 184–196^v (12th cent.) ~ Pinakes; LOC

Mount Athos, Monē Batopediou, 90, fols. 234^v–254^v (16th/17th cent.) ~ Pinakes

Mount Athos, Monē Batopediou, 435, fols. 144–150 (16th cent.) ~ Pinakes

Mount Athos, Monē Batopediou, 486, fols. 200–216 (14th cent.) ~ Pinakes

Mount Athos, Monē Batopediou, 497, fols. 78^v–90^v (10th cent.) ~ Pinakes

Mount Athos, Monē Dionusiou, 166 (Lambros 3700), fols. not provided (1616) ~ Pinakes

Mount Athos, Monē Hagiou Panteleēmonos, 201, pp. 165–174 (19th cent.) ~ Pinakes

Mount Athos, Monē Koutloumousiou, 208 (Lambros 3281), fols. not provided (15th cent.) ~ Pinakes

Mount Athos, Monē Megistēs Lauras, Δ44 (Eustratiades 420) (11th cent.) ~ Pinakes

Mount Athos, Monē Megistēs Lauras, Δ46 (Eustratiades 422), fols. 210^r–226^v (12th cent.) ~ Pinakes

Mount Athos, Monē Megistēs Lauras, Ε52 (Eustratiades 428), fols. 121–132 (11th cent.) ~ Pinakes

Mount Athos, Monē Megistēs Lauras, Ε184 (Eustratiades 646), fols. 205–222 (12th cent.) ~ Pinakes

Mount Athos, Monē Megistēs Lauras, H184 (Eustratiades 838), fols. 382–411 (15th cent.) ~ Pinakes

Mount Athos, Monē Pantokratos, 102 (Lambros 1136), fols. not provided (14th cent.) ~ Pinakes

Istanbul, Patriarchikē Bibliothēkē, Hagia Trias 76, fols. 220–235 (11th cent.) ~ Pinakes

Istanbul, Patriarchikē Bibliothēkē, Hagia Trias 77, fols. 22–32 (12th/13th cent.) ~ Pinakes

Istanbul, Patriarchikē Bibliothēkē, Hagia Trias 78, fols. 179–193 (15th cent.) ~ Pinakes

Istanbul, Patriarchikē Bibliothēkē, Hagia Trias 79, fols. 86^v–97^v (11th cent.) ~ Pinakes

Istanbul, Patriarchikē Bibliothēkē, Panaghia 8, fols. 93^v–103^v (11th cent.) ~ Pinakes

London, British Library, Add. 11870, fols. 174^v–188^r(11th cent.)

Messina, Biblioteca Regionale Universitaria, S. Salv. 25, fols. 145–156^v (12th cent.) ~ Pinakes; Messina

Messina, Biblioteca Regionale Universitaria, S. Salv. 31, fols. 140^v–151^r (12th cent.) ~ Pinakes; Messina

Messina, Biblioteca Regionale Universitaria, S. Salv. 41, fols. 162–173 (12th cent.) ~ Pinakes; Messina

Messina, Biblioteca Regionale Universitaria, S. Salv. 54, fols. 188–202^v (12th/13th cent.) ~ Pinakes

Meteora, Monē Barlaam, 10, pp. 269–290 (1549) ~ Pinakes

Meteora, Monē Barlaam, 96, fols. 1–10 (1345–1346) ~ Pinakes

Meteora, Monē Barlaam, 144, Part 1 fols. 1^r–5^v (15th cent.) ~ Pinakes

Milan, Biblioteca Ambrosiana, B 12 inf. (Martini-Bassi 839), fols. 20^v–29^v (12th cent.) ~ Pinakes; IMAGES

Milan, Biblioteca Ambrosiana, B 13 inf. (Martini-Bassi 840), fols. 158^v–170^v (12th cent.) ~ Pinakes

Milan, Biblioteca Ambrosiana, F 135 sup. (Martini-Bassi 374), fols. 134–145 (11th cent.) ~ Pinakes

Moscow, Gosudarstvennyj Istoričeskij Musej, Sinod. gr. 131 (Vlad 359), fols. 114–122 (11th cent.) ~ Pinakes

Moscow, Gosudarstvennyj Istoričeskij Musej, Sinod. gr. 140 (Vlad 368), fols. 71^v–82^v (11th cent.) ~ Pinakes

Moscow, Gosudarstvennyj Istoričeskij Musej, Sinod. gr. 177 (Vlad 356), fols. 145^r–156^v (10th cent.) ~ Pinakes

Oxford, Bodleian Library, Barocci 230, fols. 180^r–195^r (11th cent.) ~ Pinakes; Oxford

Oxford, Bodleian Library, Cromwell 26, pp. 377–404 (11th cent.) ~ Pinakes; Oxford Catalog

Oxford, Bodleian Library, Holkham gr. 15, fols. 134^r–144^v (11th cent.) ~ Pinakes; Oxford Catalog

Oxford, Bodleian Library, Laud gr. 70, fols. 97^v–107^r (12th cent.) ~ Pinakes; Oxford Catalog

Paris, Bibliothèque nationale de France, gr. 774, fols. 89–102^v (14th cent.) ~ Pinakes; Gallica

Paris, Bibliothèque nationale de France, gr. 1479, fols. 157^v–171^v (11th cent.) ~ Pinakes; Gallica

Paris, Bibliothèque nationale de France, gr. 1489, fols. 166^r–179^v (11th cent.)

Paris, Bibliothèque nationale de France, gr. 1492, fols. 138–149 (11th cent.) ~ Pinakes; Gallica

Paris, Bibliothèque nationale de France, gr. 1514, fols. 189, 192 (12th/13th cent.) ~ Pinakes; Gallica

Paris, Bibliothèque nationale de France, gr. 1515, fols. 130^r–141^r (11th cent.) ~ Pinakes; Gallica

Paris, Bibliothèque nationale de France, gr. 1521, fols. 206^v–218^v (12th cent.) ~ Pinakes; Gallica

Paris, Bibliothèque nationale de France, gr. 1523, fols. 160^v–173^r (11th cent.) ~ Pinakes

Paris, Bibliothèque nationale de France, gr. 1526, fols. 197–213 (14th cent.) ~ Pinakes

Paris, Bibliothèque nationale de France, gr. 1555, fols. 104–109 (14th cent.) ~ Pinakes; Gallica

Paris, Bibliothèque nationale de France, gr. 1558, fols. 126^v–137^r (15th cent.) ~ Pinakes; Gallica

Paris, Bibliothèque nationale de France, gr. 1607, fols. 166^v–179^r (13th cent.) ~ Pinakes

Paris, Bibliothèque nationale de France, supp. gr. 240, fols. 3^r–6^v, 153–163^v (11th cent.) ~ Pinakes

Vatican, Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana, Chig. R.VII.48 (gr. 39), fols. 145^v–157^r (11th cent.) ~ Pinakes

Vatican, Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana, Ott. gr. 421, fols. 196–211 (11th cent.) ~ Pinakes

Vatican, Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana, Pal. gr. 1, fols. 179^v–193^v (10th/11th cent.) ~ Pinakes; BAV

Vatican, Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana, Reg. gr. Pio II 36, fols. 48–71 (14th cent.) ~ Pinakes

Vatican, Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana, Vat. gr. 793, fols. 36–47^v (13th cent.) ~ Pinakes

Vatican, Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana, Vat. gr. 794, fols. 187^v–200^r (11th cent.) ~ Pinakes; BAV

Vatican, Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana, Vat. gr. 795, fols. 158^v–170^v (11th cent.) ~ Pinakes

Vatican, Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana, Vat. gr. 796, fols. 230^v–250^r (12th cent.) ~ Pinakes

Vatican, Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana, Vat. gr. 1643, fols. 121^v–131^v (12th/13th cent.) ~ Pinakes

Vatican, Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana, Vat. gr. 2044, fols. 173^v–186^v (11th cent.) ~ Pinakes

Vatican, Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana, Vat. gr. 2047, fols. 103–111 (11th cent.) ~ Pinakes; BAV

Venice, Biblioteca Nazionale Marciana, gr. VII.24 (coll. 938), fols. 127^r–137^v (12th/13th cent.) ~ Pinakes

Venice, Biblioteca Nazionale Marciana, gr. Z 347 (coll. 692), fols. 137^v–149^r (11th/12th cent.) ~ Pinakes

Venice, Biblioteca Nazionale Marciana, gr. Z 586 (coll. 660), fols. 185^v–200^r (11th cent.) ~ Pinakes

Vienna, Österreichische Nationalbibliothek, hist. gr. 39, fols. 126^v–136^v (14th cent.) ~ Pinakes

Zaborda, Monē tou hagiou Nikanoros, 43, fols. 116^r–129^v (14th/15th cent.) ~ Pinakes

Pantin, Pierre. Basilii Seleuciae in Isauria episcopi De vita ac miraculis d. Theclae virginis martyris Iconiensis Libri Duo. Antwerp: Moretus, 1608 (text from unidentified source with Latin translation, pp. 250–91).

Migne, Jacques-Paul. Patrologiae cursus completus: Series graeca. Vol. 115. Paris: Cerf, 1881 (reprint of Pantin’s edition text with Latin translation, cols. 821–45).

Kaestli, Jean-Daniel, and Willy Rordorf. “La fin de la vie de Thècle dans les manuscrits des Actes de Paul et Thècle: Édition des textes additionnels.” Apocrypha 25 (2014): 9–101 (edition of ch. 15 where it occurs as an addendum to the Acts of Paul and Thecla in three manuscripts of that text, with facing French translation, pp. 93–101).

3.2 Modern Translations

3.2.1 French

3.3 General Works