Holy Martyr Hermione, Daughter of Philip the Deacon and Apostle (+c. 117)

The holy Martyr Hermione was the daughter of the holy Apostle Philip (commemorated 11 October).

Saint Hermione was brought before the Emperor Trajan (98–117), who was on his way to fight the Persians, as a Christian who had rejected the law of her forefathers. At first the emperor tried with affectionate admonitions to turn the blessed one away from the faith of Christ, but when he could do nothing, he gave orders for her to be tortured.

Hermione endured the torments with joy. She was strengthened by an appearance of the Saviour seated on a throne. Trajan was soon convinced that it was impossible to bend the saint, and set the Lord’s chosen one free.

The Emperor Trajan’s successor, Hadrian (117–138), ordered the blessed one to be brought before the tribunal again for confessing Christ. By order of the lawless autocrat the martyr was first mercilessly beaten, then nails were driven into the soles of her feet, and at last she was thrown into a cauldron full of boiling pitch, tin and sulphur. Saint Hermione gave thanks to the Lord for everything, and God looked on her with the eye of mercy, and the handmaid of Christ remained unharmed. This miracle was not enough to bring the godless ruler to his senses: this time he ordered the saint to be tortured on a red-hot frying pan. Here too a wonder took place: Hermione stood on the pan as on green grass and glorified God in song.

The handmaid of Christ was taken to offer sacrifice to the idol of Hercules. When they entered the pagan temple, in answer to Hermione’s prayer a terrible rumbling was heard, and all the statues of the false god were shattered.

The enraged king gave orders for the martyr to be led out of the city and beheaded. The carrying out of the sentence was entrusted to two servants, Theodulus and Timothy. On the way they meant to use force on the Lord’s chosen one, but as soon as this foul thought entered their heads their hands withered. Then, frightened, they believed in Christ and fell at Hermione’s feet in repentance. The executioners begged the saint to ask God to take them from this world before her, which by the martyr’s intercession was indeed fulfilled. After this Hermione herself commended her soul to the Lord in prayer (+c. 117).