Holy Martyrs Alexander and Antonina the Virgin (+c. 313)

The holy Martyrs Alexander and Antonina the Virgin (+c. 313). Saint Antonina lived in the city of Krodamnos in Asia Minor. The virgin, burning with love for the true God, was brought by her lawless fellow citizens before the governor Festus. Festus proposed that she return to the religion of her forefathers, promising in return that she would be chosen priestess of the goddess Artemis. The saint courageously confessed Christ and herself advised the governor to stop worshipping the demons that nested in the idols. By Festus’s order Antonina was thrown into prison. Standing again before the governor, the saint again firmly confessed the true faith and denounced paganism. Then Festus ordered the virgin to be given to the soldiers to be dishonoured. A noble soldier, Alexander, took pity on the virgin and decided to save her. He asked to be allowed to try to win Antonina over. Going into the prison, he offered the saint escape in his soldier’s clothing. At first the virgin was afraid, but then, strengthened by the Lord, she agreed. The soldiers sent by Festus found only Alexander in the cell. The soldier gave no answer to their questions, and even under questioning by the governor they could not make him say a word. Then he was cruelly beaten. By God’s will Antonina too came before the governor. The tormentors first cut off the hands of both martyrs of Christ, then smeared them with pitch and threw them into a fire blazing in a pit. When the fire had gone out, the hollow was filled with earth, so that the Christians could not find even the saints’ bones. Festus returned home and was struck dumb. Seven years later he gave up his spirit in terrible torment.

The holy Martyrs Alexander and Antonina met their end on 3 May 313. Their incorrupt relics were later translated to Constantinople and placed in the monastery of Saint Maximus.