Saint Theophilus of Adana

Saint Theophilus the Penitent, also known as Theophilus of Cilicia or Theophilus of Adana (Greek: Θεόφιλος Άδανας, died c. 538) was a cleric in the sixth century Church who is said to have made a deal with the Devil to gain an ecclesiastical position. His story is significant as it is one of the oldest popular stories of a pact with the Devil and was an inspiration for the Faust legend. Eutychianus of Adana, who claimed to be an eyewitness of the events, is the first to record Theophilus's story. Although Theophilus is considered to be an historical personage, the tale associated with him is of an apocryphal nature. He is venerated as a saint in the Eastern Orthodox Church and Roman Catholic Church, with a feast day on 23 June and 4 February respectively. Theophilus was the archdeacon of Adana, Cilicia, then a part of the Byzantine Empire. He was unanimously elected to be a bishop, and when out of humility he turned the position down, another man was elected in his stead. When the new bishop, based on malicious and unfounded rumors, unjustly deprived Theophilus of his position as archdeacon, Theophilus regretted his previous stance and sought out a necromancer, who helped him contact Satan. In exchange for his aid, Satan demanded that Theophilus renounce Christ and the Virgin Mary in a contract signed with his own blood. Theophilus complied, and the devil gave him the position as bishop. Later, fearful for his soul, Theophilus repented and prayed to the Virgin Mary for forgiveness. After forty days of fasting, the Virgin appeared to him and verbally chastised him. Theophilus begged her for forgiveness and she promised to intercede with God on his behalf. He then fasted a further thirty days, after which the Virgin Mary appeared to him again, and granted him absolution. However, Satan was unwilling to relinquish his hold over Theophilus, and three days later, Theophilus awoke to find the damning contract on his chest.