Historical Context
Theodota's martyrdom is set during the reign of Alexander Severus, who ruled as Roman emperor from 222 to 235. Historical sources describe him as broadly tolerant toward Jews and Christians; the Historia Augusta even claims he wished to honor Jesus, though that source is considered untrustworthy.
Despite this relatively benign imperial posture, local governors could and did act against Christians on their own initiative. Theodota's death under the Cappadocian governor Symblicius illustrates how provincial persecution could occur even when the central court was not hostile to the faith.
Martyrdom
According to the synaxarion, Theodota was reported to the governor Symblicius as a rich woman confessing Christ. Summoned and unable to be persuaded to renounce her beliefs, she was ordered to be tortured: officials suspended her and raked her with iron hooks, but she is said to have felt no pain. She was then imprisoned.
Eight days later she was brought out for further tortures, and the synaxarion relates that her body bore only minimal marks from the earlier suffering. When questioned, she answered that the governor's mind was clouded and identified herself plainly as Theodota.
Symblicius ordered her cast into a red-hot furnace; the account relates that flames shot out and scorched bystanders while she remained unharmed, and that pagan priests who later tried to scatter her ashes were themselves burned. Further attempts — placing her on heated iron plates and stretching her while a saw was applied — are said to have left her unharmed. Finally the governor ordered her beheaded at Nicaea.
