Theoctiste of Lesbos
What we know about St. Theoktiste of Lesbos, also known as Theoctiste of Paros, we owe primarily to St. Symeon Metaphrastes ("the Translator"), renowned primarily for his (all 148) "Lives of the Saints". Theoctiste was born on the island of Lesbos, however, her association with the historical and archaeologically important Church of Panagia Ekatontapyliani - Hundred Doors (Paros), the "Parians" have her classified as one of their local saints.
She was orphaned from a very young age and was raised in a monastery from a young age until she reached her eighteenth. At around this time, she was captured by foreigh slavers and taken captive, along with her sister and other villagers from Lesbos. The pirates reached the island of Paros and docked at one of the ports. Theoctiste escaped and spent the entire night walking through the forests of the island until she reached refuge at the church dedicated to the Holy Theotokos. She dwelt within this church for 35 years and died late in the 9th century.
She is commemorated by the church November 9 and also November 22.
See also
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