Martyrs Theodulus the Reader and Agathopodes the Deacon

Theodulus was a young Reader of the church at Thessalonica in the early fourth century, ordained at a young age by the local bishop and known for his diligent learning and devotion. Agathopodes was an aged deacon of the same church, his teacher and senior in the clergy. They served together at the city's principal church through the early years of the Diocletianic persecution.

When the imperial commissioner came to Thessalonica in 303 to enforce the universal sacrifice, Theodulus and Agathopodes were among the first arrested. The synaxarion records the touching scene of their examination — the old deacon, when asked his name, replied "Agathopodes, which means good-foot, because I have always walked the good way of Christ"; the young Reader, when asked his name, replied "Theodulus, which means servant of God, because I serve no other master." They were tortured at the customary intervals over several days, and finally — when they would not yield — they were bound together back-to-back and cast into the sea with weights.

Their bodies, by the synaxarion's account, washed ashore separately at the foot of the Thessalonian acropolis, still bound to one another. Christians retrieved and buried them with honor. Their joint feast falls on April 5.