Thecla, the beast fighter: The saint who faced down lions and killer seals is one of many ‘leading ladies’ in early Christian texts

Thecla, the beast fighter: The saint who faced down lions and killer seals is one of many ‘leading ladies’ in early Christian texts

A relic said to be part of Saint Thecla's arm has been kept in the Cathedral of Tarragona, Spain for centuries. Gaspar Ros/Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SAThe Bible is filled with brave and courageous women. Deborah, the judge who fought a war to protect her people. The widow Ruth, who wittingly convinces a man to marry her in order to continue the lineage of her mother-in-law, Naomi. Esther, who boldly stands up to an evil politician, Haman, in orde…