Venerable Hieria (+c. 320)

The Venerable Hieria was born and brought up in a pagan family. Later she became the wife of a Roman senator, but was widowed after seven months. In the Syrian city of Sebapolis she learned that near Nisibis, in a convent, there lived a young nun, Febronia, renowned for her strict ascetic life. Disguised as a pilgrim, Hieria visited the blessed mother and talked with her all night. Returning home, the future saint was baptised and persuaded her parents to follow her example.

During the persecution of Christians under Diocletian (284–305) most of the nuns of the monastery of Nisibis went into hiding, but Saint Febronia came before the tribunal and openly confessed Christ, for which she was savagely tortured. Hieria fearlessly denounced the cruelty of the executioners; the judge ordered her too to be seized and tortured, but when he learned that he was dealing with the widow of a Roman senator he changed his decision.

Saint Hieria wept bitterly for her teacher, Mother Febronia (+c. 304, commemorated 25 June), who had met a martyr’s end, and grieved that she had not been made worthy to die for Christ. With tears she begged the abbess Bryene to receive her into the convent in Febronia’s place. Then she gave all her property to the convent and laboured there until her death. The venerable mother reposed in peace in 320.