Thecla

A detail of the face of Thecla looking out of a window of a building watching Paul preach.

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This painting, on the western wall of the cave, portrays an event from the apocryphal text sometimes called The Acts of Paul and Thecla.  The painting depicts the initial event described in the book, in the city of Iconium, where Thecla is looking from a window [of her house?] at Paul preaching while Thecla's mother (Theocleia) looks on.  Thecla, against the wishes of her mother, Theocleia, gave up her betrothal (engagement) in order to remain a virgin and to follow Paul and eventually to become a preacher herself.