When Thekla learned of Paul’s arrest, she secretly went to the prison and using her gold bracelets to bribe the guard, gained admittance to his cell.  When she saw the apostle, she knelt before him and kissed the chains, which bound his hands and feet. She remained there a long time listening to his message of the good news of Jesus Christ.

Icon of St. Thekla on our Iconostasis

Being concerned at Thekla’s prolonged absence, Theokleia and Thamyris asked her servant if she knew where she was. The servant said that Thekla had gone to visit an imprisoned stranger. Theokleia and Thamyris knew at once that she was with Paul. They decided to go again to the governor, this time demanding the immediate judgment for the Apostle. After the governor chastened Paul for the disturbances he had caused in the city, he had him stoned and expelled from Iconium. The governor then admonished Thekla for her foolishness and commanded her to return home with her mother and fiancé. When Thekla announced that she vowed to remain a virgin for the sake of Christ, her mother became enraged and asked the governor to threaten Thekla with severe punishment. The governor complied and ruled that Thekla was to be burned at the stake unless she renounced her faith to Christ.

When Thekla refused to renounce her Heavenly Bridegroom, she was taken to the arena for punishment. As she was tied to the stake, she saw a vision of Christ, which gave her strength to face the flames. The fire was lit, but as the flames came near Thekla, a thunderstorm suddenly arose and a great torrent of rain and hail came down from heaven and extinguished the flames. Embarrassed that his plan had failed, the angry governor released Thekla, but commanded that she must leave Iconium at once.

Upon her release, Thekla went to the outskirts of the city where she rejoined Paul. She told him of her trial and miraculous escape and asked for baptism. Paul refused to baptize Thekla saying that this would be accomplished in God’s own way and time. Paul and Thekla then departed the region of Iconium and traveled to Antioch in Syria. As they were entering the city, a young nobleman named Alexander saw Thekla. Being entranced by her beauty, he rushed forward and tried to seduce her, but Thekla fought him off disgracing him in front of his crowd of friends. Alexander went to the governor of Antioch and complained that the wandering girl had disgraced him, a nobleman, and in public. He demanded she be punished with death. The governor complied and ruled that Thekla would face the beasts in the arena. Thekla’s only reply was that she be allowed to protect her virginity unto her death. Her wish was granted and she was given into the care of the noblewoman Tryphaena, a relative of Caesar, until the time of her punishment.

When Thekla was taken into the arena, lioness was set free to attack her. But, to the astonishment of the crowd, the lioness approached the Saint and sat tamely at her feet. A bear was then released, but as it came close to Thekla, the lioness rose up to defend her and killed the bear. A large lion was then released. The lioness again came to Thekla’s defense killing the lion, but losing it’s own life also. Then all of the cages were opened and a large number of wild animals charged at the defenseless Thekla. After crossing herself and praying for courage, the Saint noticed a large tank of water, which was nearby, containing aquatic animals. She climbed into the water, asking that she may be baptized by Christ, as she did so. Seeing that the beasts were unable to harm Thekla, Alexander asked that the Saint be given over to him for punishment.

He tied her to two large bulls in the hopes that they would pull her asunder. But when the bulls charged off in opposite directions, the ropes, which held Thekla to them, miraculously loosened and she was spared. Seeing that no harm could be done to Thekla, the authorities released her. She went to the home of Tryphaena where she remained for eight days preaching the Good News of Jesus Christ and converting Tryphaena and her entire household. When she departed from Antioch, Tryphaena gave her a treasure in gold and precious jewels.

After she left Antioch, Thekla journeyed to Myra where she rejoined Paul. She informed him of all that had occurred, including her baptism and asked that she be permitted to spend the remainder of her life as an ascetic. Paul gave her his blessing and she departed leaving Paul all of the gold and jewels that Tryphaena had given her so that he might distribute them among the poor and needy.

Thekla then traveled to Syria where she went up into the mountains for a life of prayer and solitude. Many years later, a young pagan found her praying in an isolated canyon and resolved to harass her and spoil her virginity. As he approached her and blocked her only exit to safety, she prayed that the Bridegroom would protect her as He had many times in the past. At that moment, the canyon wall miraculously split allowing her to escape through a narrow crack in the rock.

Saint Thekla continued her life in asceticism and then peacefully fell asleep in Christ at the age of 90. Shortly after her death, a community of virgins went to live in her mountain cell, building a small chapel to enshrine her body. The convent of Saint Thekla still exists today near the village of Maaloula, Syria.

Because of her many sufferings for the Faith, the Church counts her as a "Protomartyr". And because she converted so many people to Christianity she is also known as "Equal-to-the-Apostles."