Venerable Virgin Martyrs Archelais, Thecla and Susanna (+293)

The venerable Virgin Martyrs Archelais, Thecla and Susanna (+293) lived in a convent near Rome. During the persecution of Christians by Diocletian (284–305) the holy virgins dressed in men’s clothing, cut their hair, moved to the province of Campania, and settled in a remote place there to labour. By the gift granted them by God the saints healed the sick and converted pagans to Christianity. When Leontius, the governor of the region, learned of the virgins, he ordered them to be brought to the city of Salerno. He threatened Archelais that if she did not offer sacrifice to the idols he would put her to death. Trusting in the Lord, the virgin refused to worship lifeless idols and denounced the folly of the pagans. Then she was thrown to hungry lions to be torn apart, but the beasts lay down meekly at the saint’s feet. The enraged Leontius ordered the lions to be killed and the virgins thrown into prison.

The next morning the executioners cruelly tortured Saint Archelais: they cut her body and poured hot pitch on the wounds. Suddenly a light shone and a voice was heard: “Fear not, I am with thee.” The power of God protected the holy virgin: when they meant to crush her with a huge boulder, an angel rolled the stone aside, and the executioners themselves were killed. At last the judge ordered the courageous confessors of Christ to be beheaded.