Thecla's Lunatic Irritation

Jason Ingram · 06 Mar 2002, 03:08 · from urth-v0203.mbox · original

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From: Jason Ingram <j_ingram at mac.com>
Subject: Re: (urth) Thecla's Lunatic Irritation
Date: Tue, 5 Mar 2002 19:08:48 -0800
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On a slightly different note, I came across a reference to a Saint=20
Thecla that I found interesting.  I'm curious how much light it on her=20
eventual union with Severian.

The passage is from Durrell's translation and adaptation of _Pope Joan_=20
by Emmanuel Royidis, and occurs in the context of an attempt by =20
Frumentius to persuade Joanna to join him as a monk;

"[...] he continued to press her, arguing  with the help of Deuteronomy=20
and the opinion of Origen that all women would anyhow be transformed=20
into men on the Last Day.  Joanna replied to this that Origen was a=20
heretic and, moreover, a eunuch.  Frumentius however reminded her of the=20
example of St. Thecla, sister of the Apostle Paul [...] and a host of=20
others who had hidden their white bodies like angels' wings in the black=20
habits of men and had acquired holiness living with monks." [p.55]

And a footnote: St. Thecla, "though not recorded as the sister of St.=20
Paul, is said to have accompanied him on several apostolic missions. =20
Described in Butler [...] she early felt the call of god, and broke off=20
her engagement with a young man, whose despair turned to hatred.  He=20
denounced her to the authorities and she was condemned to be torn to=20
pieces by wild animals."  According to this story, she lived "to a ripe=20
old age"  [p.155]. I haven't checked any sources, but even if Royidis or=20
Durrell were fabricating the history, it resonates well.

Sepia

--=20

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