Saint Theodore was a new recruit for the Roman army when an edict was issued that all soldiers participate in pagan worship. St. Theodore refused and was jailed briefly. This gave him time to contemplate the evils of paganism, and after he was freed, he set fire to the pagan temple of Cybele. He was then tortured and burned alive. St. Gregory of Nyssa preached about his intercession in battle, so he became known as the dragon-slayer and warrior saint, and the Crusaders adopted him as their patron.
