Holy Great Martyr Marina (IV)
The holy Great Martyr Marina was born into the family of a pagan priest living in Antioch of Pisidia. Orphaned of her mother in early childhood, the girl was entrusted by her father to a nurse. The pious nurse brought the blessed one up in faithfulness to the Christian faith.
Meanwhile the Emperor Diocletian (284–305) began a cruel persecution of the Christians. The eparch Olybrius, on his way to Antioch to punish the faithful, met fifteen-year-old Marina on the road, was charmed by her beauty, and asked who she was and where she came from. The virtuous virgin answered his questions humbly; nor did she hide that she was a Christian, was preparing for baptism, and intended to dedicate her life to Christ. On learning this Olybrius ordered the soldiers accompanying him to seize her and take her along to the city, while treating the girl carefully, for he hoped to persuade her to renounce her faith and to take her as his wife.
The next day the saint was brought before the tribunal. The eparch advised her to offer sacrifice to the idols, but neither flattery nor threats had any effect.
Shut up in prison, the virgin prayed without ceasing, and the Saviour looked with the eye of mercy on her who hoped in Him: at night a luminous cross shone above the martyr, a white dove alighted on the cross, and from on high was heard: “Rejoice, Marina, wise dove of Christ! For thou hast trampled down the cunning of the adversary; rejoice, for soon thou shalt be made worthy to enter with the wise virgins into the bridal chamber of thy Bridegroom, the immortal King of heaven!” Strengthened by the grace-filled words, the martyr felt her wounds healing; her heart was filled with joy; she glorified the Lord, and the next day she stood before the judge made valiant in soul and body.
The eparch attributed the miracle that had happened to the idols and again demanded that Marina worship them, but the blessed confessor glorified the one true God again and again. The godless heaped ever new torments on the saint, and at last threw her into a huge vat full of water. Marina, doomed to be drowned, was lit up by divine light; her bonds loosed of themselves, and she remained alive once more. The wondrous sight amazed the people. Many believed and glorified the true God, while the eparch was enraged and ordered all who confessed Christ to be slaughtered. Then fifteen hundred Christians suffered martyrdom. Saint Marina was beheaded.
Until the capture of Constantinople by the Crusaders in 1204, Saint Marina’s incorrupt relics were in the monastery of the Pantepoptes. According to other accounts, they rested in Antioch until 908, and from there were translated to Italy. The great martyr’s precious hand is kept on Athos, in the monastery of Vatopedi; the other hand is kept in Georgia.
