Saint Theodore Tiro

Theodore was a young recruit (in Latin, tiro) in the Roman army stationed at Amasea, in Pontus (today's Turkey). During the persecution under Maximian, he refused to offer sacrifice to the gods and, according to tradition, set fire to a pagan temple. After being imprisoned and tortured, he was burned to death around 306. Saint Gregory of Nyssa preached a famous sermon in his honor at his shrine in Euchaita.

He was the first patron of Venice before Saint Mark, and his statue still stands atop a column in the Piazzetta of Saint Mark. In the Eastern Churches he is remembered on the first Saturday of Lent, recalling a tradition that he warned Christians not to eat food polluted by pagan sacrifices.