Synaxarium

On this day, Saint Sarah and her two children were martyred. She was from Antioch, the wife of a man named Socrates, one of the commanders of Diocletian. This commander had renounced his Christian faith to flatter the king and pretended before his wife that he did so out of fear of the king. God blessed her with two sons, but she could not baptize them in Antioch for fear of the king and her husband. So she took them and traveled to Alexandria to baptize them there. God wanted to show the greatness of her faithfulness for the benefit of future generations. He stirred up strong winds that nearly drowned the boat. The woman feared her children would die without baptism. She prayed a long prayer, then swore by her right breast and took some of her blood, marking the foreheads and hearts of her two sons, then immersed them three times in the sea in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

After that, the winds ceased, the sea calmed, and the boat sailed. Upon arrival in Alexandria, she entered the church and presented her children to Pope Peter the Seal of the Martyrs to baptize them with the children of the city. When the pope took the children to baptize them, the baptismal water froze like stone. He was amazed, took the children again, and the water froze a second time. This happened three times. The pope was astonished and inquired from their mother about the matter. She told him what had happened at sea and what she had done for her children. He glorified God, saying: 'Truly, it is one baptism.'

When the woman returned to Antioch, her husband denied what she had done and informed the king. She was summoned and rebuked, with the king saying: 'Why did you go to Alexandria to fornicate with the Christians?' She answered: 'The Christians do not fornicate nor worship idols, and whatever you want after this, do it, and you will hear no more from me.' He said: 'Tell me what you did in Alexandria.' She did not answer. He ordered her hands to be tied behind her back, placed her children on her stomach, then burned her with fire. She turned her face to the east and prayed. Then she surrendered her pure soul with her children and all received the crown of martyrdom.

May their prayers be with us. Amen.

On this day, we celebrate the commemoration of Saint Pbenoudah the Hermit, Saint Theodorus the Monk, and one hundred martyrs who were all martyred in the lands of the Gentiles.

May their prayers be with us. And to our Lord be glory forever. Amen.