Synaxarium

On this day, the virgin saints Agapi, Irene, and Sophia were martyred. They were from Thessalonica and were devoted to Christ against their fathers. Then they chose the life of virginity and agreed to walk in virtue. They were constant in continuous fasts and many prayers, frequently visiting the virgins’ monasteries, living ascetically with the nuns. When the unbeliever Maximianus (around the end of the third century) took power and stirred up idol worship and shed the blood of many Christians, the saints feared and fled to the mountain, hiding in a cave, continuing their asceticism and worship. There was an old Christian woman who sought them out every week with all that they needed, selling what they made with their hands and giving alms on their behalf. It happened that one of the wicked men saw this old woman frequently going to the mountain. He followed her from afar until he discovered the cave she entered. He hid so as not to be seen upon her return, thinking she was hiding precious things. When she left the cave and moved away, he entered and found the precious jewels, the brides of Christ, standing and praying. He bound and dragged them and brought them to the governor of Thessalonica. He asked them about their faith, and they confessed that they were Christians devoted to the Crucified. The governor was enraged against them, tortured them greatly, then threw them into the fire. They surrendered their spirits and received the crown of martyrdom. May their prayers be with us. Amen.

On this day, we commemorate the event of the martyrdom of one hundred and fifty believers who were killed at one time by the hand of the King of Persia. This king had raided the lands of the Christians bordering his country and captured many of them. When they refused to obey him by worshiping the sun and the stars, he ordered their beheading. Thus, they received the crowns of martyrdom. May their prayers be with us. And to our Lord be glory forever. Amen.