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Saint Theodore's Day is a religious holiday celebrated on the first Saturday of the Great Lent. On this day as well as on February 17, the Orthodox Church celebrates the memory of Theodore Tyron. Veneration of St. Theodor is witnessed since in the early centuries. In the times of Christian persecution, Julian the Apostate (332 -- 363) continued to pursue a reinstatement of Paganism. Knowing that forty days before Easter the Christian would follow a strict lent, he decided to deride them and force them to eat food that is used in idolatry sacrifice. Julian ordered the commander of the city of Constantinople to secretly sprinkle all meatless foods on the market with blood used in pagan sacrificial rituals so that the Christians unwittingly to disgrace themselves and be humiliated.