“A certain maiden, Thecla – whose mother was Theocleia and was promised in marriage to a man, Thamyris – sat at a window close to the house and listened night and day to the message about holiness spoken by Paul. She did not turn away from the window, but moved forward in faith, rejoicing exceedingly. And yet having seen many women and maidens coming to Paul, she also desired for herself to be deemed worthy, to stand face-to-face with Paul and hear the word of Christ.”

— THE ACTS OF PAUL AND THECLA (Ch. 7, V. 1-2)