What is known about St. Theoktiste is owed primarily to the prayer book written by St. Simeon Metaphrastes. It recounts that Theoctiste lived during the 9th century and was born on the island of Mithimna, Lesbos. However, due to her association with the historical and archaeologically important Church of Panagia Ekatontapyliani - Hundred Doors (Paros), the "Parians" have her classified as one of their local saints. She was orphaned from a very young age and became a nun in her childhood and was raised in a monastery in Lesbos.