Thecla of Iconium

fl. c. AD 45–90 (trad.); her Acts c. 160 · Virgin · Protomartyr among women (by tradition) · Iconium → Seleucia

The Apostolic Fathers

Thecla of Iconium — historical depiction 1 — Thecla of IconiumAnonymous Unknown author · Public domain · Commons

Who Thecla of Iconium was

The maiden of Iconium who, in the second-century Acts of Paul and Thecla, breaks her engagement at Paul's preaching, survives fire and beasts, and teaches at Seleucia to old age. Tertullian already knew — and disliked — the book, reporting that the Asian presbyter who composed it 'out of love for Paul' was deposed; her cult became one of the greatest of the East.

Also listed in martyrs and women.

Common questions

When was Thecla active?

Thecla of Iconium is dated fl. c. AD 45–90 (trad.); her Acts c. 160 in the archive, which places Thecla in the Apostolic Fathers (AD 70–130). The dating is traditional and approximate; the archive marks it as uncertain rather than fixing a year the sources do not give.

Which early sources mention Thecla?

Thecla of Iconium is named in 5 primary-source passages catalogued here, drawn from The presbyter of Asia, Tertullian, Methodius of Olympus and Egeria the pilgrim. Every passage is quoted from a named public-domain translation, earliest first.

Where was Thecla from?

The archive associates Thecla of Iconium with Iconium, Seleucia. The sources record more than one location, so the places are listed in the order the record moves through them.

Who were Thecla’s contemporaries?

The archive links Thecla of Iconium to 1 other figure, including Paul of Tarsus. Each connection is drawn from a source that places them together, not from inference.

Primary-source mentions (5)

Every passage below is quoted from a named public-domain translation, earliest first.

Acts of Paul and Thecla (her acta entire)

c. AD 160

And Thecla by night having taken off her bracelets, gave them to the gate-keeper; and the door having been opened to her, she went into the prison.

The presbyter of Asia · Acts of Paul and Thecla 7–43 · source text

On Baptism 17

c. AD 200

But if certain Acts of Paul, which falsely bear that name, claim the example of Thecla for allowing women to teach and to baptize, let men know that in Asia the presbyter who composed that writing, as if he could add of his own to Paul's fame, was found out, and though he professed he had done it for love of Paul, was deposed from his office.

Tertullian · source text