The suffering of the martyrs Alexander and Antonina

In one of the persecutions against Christians, when many believers in Christ were put to death after various tortures long after the persecution had begun, a Christian maiden named Antonina, a native of the city of Croadamn [the city of Croadamn in the province of Thrace in Asia Minor], was seized and brought before the cruel governor Festus.

For her pious and virtuous life, the Lord was pleased to make her a martyr, to shame and defeat the evil devil.

When the girl Antony was brought before the cruel governor Festus, he began to seduce her with many cunning words, saying to her: "Mrs. Antony, a virgin pure and chaste, I want to make you queen of the goddess Artemis [Artemis or Diana - the Greco-Roman goddess of light and moon], give you many gifts and honors and make you overseer of all my possessions".

After Festus had remained silent for some time, St. Antonina finally replied: "Why do you bring me vain gifts?

Festus replied, "You are a man of God, and I do not believe in any other gods or gods but Jesus, who was crucified".

"I do not hide the fact that our Lord Jesus Christ was crucified and that he died and was buried, but that he was raised up from the dead on the third day and is now at the right hand of God the Father, just as it is written in our own writings: 'Jehovah said to my Lord: "Sit at my right hand until I place your enemies as a stool for your feet".'" - Ps. 109:1.

But Festus said to him, "You're full of craziness. How is it that you don't just worship our gods when you offer sacrifices to them?"

"How dare you call our gods demons?" exclaimed Festus. "Yes, I do", answered St. Antony, "for they have no power; you can get no benefit from them, for they are certainly not gods, but demons".

And he said, By the gods, if thou wilt not do the king's commandment, I will cause thee to be cast into the house of the wicked after the fiercest of torments, and I will judge thee by the greatest of reproaches.

For many of those who were of your faith did as you did, but afterwards changed their minds and worshipped our gods. Then St. Antony said to the governor, 'Do what you will, wicked torturer.'

The governor summoned the jailer secretly and ordered him not to harm Paul but to persuade him with kind words to renounce his Christian faith and to sacrifice to idols.

"Pure virgin Antonina, why do you persist? Why are you unwilling to change your mind? Offer a sacrifice to our gods to save you from the torment that awaits you". But the saint did not answer him anything, so that the jailer was very surprised and puzzled why the holy virgin did not answer him a word.

And it came to pass at the end of the third day, that there was a great thunder, and the doors of the prison were opened, and a great light shone in the prison, and a voice came from heaven, saying, Arise, Antony, and feed thyself, and eat bread and water, and be of good courage, and fear not the wicked governor Festus, for I am with thee.

And it came to pass on the morrow, when it was light, that the governor sat in his judgment seat, and said, Bring forth this harlot before me, that I may hear her heart.

"Lord, my God, I thank you, " he said", for you have done your will for me. I pray you, do not abandon me even to death. " Suddenly, a voice from heaven said", Go on your way without fear, for I am with you. "

"I will tell you the reason for my laughter, for I see that the throne on which you sit will soon collapse, and you will perish", so I laughed.

And when the king saw that she mocked him, he commanded that she should be scourged; and the saint lifted up her eyes to heaven, and prayed, saying, I thank thee, O Lord my God, that thou hast delighted in me, a poor sinner, to divide the lot of thy saints.

When the governor heard these words, he became even more furious and said to the soldiers: "This wicked and presumptuous woman not only dares to blaspheme our gods but also threatens us.

But when the angel of the Lord appeared to a man named Alexander, a centurion in the Roman army,

"Go to the governor and tell him to let you enter Antony's house, and when you have entered, put your cloak on her and let her go out of that house, so that the wicked ruler does not know her". The valiant soldier of Christ, following the angel's command, went to the governor and begged him: "Let me enter Antony's house, and if I persuade her, then release her, but if not, do to her what you will".

So the governor gave in to her, saying, "Do whatever you want. " Then Alexander went in and fell at her feet, saying", I am the Lord's servant, and the Lord has sent me to tell you that you will be healed of your virginity".

But suddenly a bright light shone in the room, and a voice said, "Do not be afraid, Antoninus, for he who has called you to this feat is generous and merciful, and Alexander himself calls you to this same martyrdom. Put on his mantle, bow your head, and hide your face, and go out of here, so that the governor will not know you. I will hide you so that he will not know you".

Then St. Antonina took Alexander's cloak and put it on herself, covered her head and went out of the house, gesturing with her hand to the ruler, as if to say: "Do as you wish".

But the governor thought that Alexander had gone out of the house, and he sent to Antonina four more soldiers, saying to them, "Go to her and do with her as you will". And after abusing her, bring her out, so that she will receive a great disgrace and we will all laugh at her". The soldiers did so. They entered to desecrate the girl, but they did not find her, but only Alexander.

And the king said unto Alexander, Tell us, thou unfaithful and false, how hast thou deceived us? where is the wicked harlot that thou hast defiled, and hast put thy garments upon her, and sent her away to be thy wife? but this shall not be, neither shalt thou escape my wrath.

When Alexander had made a long speech, he ordered that Paul be hanged and beaten without mercy. When they had finished beating him, the governor said to him, "Where is this wicked woman to whom you have come?"

Five days later, Alexander was brought before the court again and asked, "What do you think? Do you want to sacrifice to the gods or not?"

"Where is this woman? " asked Festus". I don't know where she is, " Alexander replied.

"Festus, you wicked and wicked man, who are you looking for? I have come to you to shame and destroy your power. " When Festus saw the holy woman, he was furious.

Then Alexander and his servant Antonia joined in the defense, saying, "You are a virgin.

"We have no right to be subjected to such torment, most excellent Festus, for we are being forced to worship your demented gods. " When the governor heard this, he ordered that their hands be cut off.

"First of all, wicked and cruel tormentor, let it be known to you that by no torture can you overcome our pious thoughts, do with us as you wish". The soldiers drew their swords and cut off the hands of the holy martyrs, but as if they felt no pain, they glorified the Lord and then turned to the governor and said to him:

"O king, we are not responsible for your punishment. You will enter the Fire to remain in it forever".

And the king was wroth, and ordered that a pit should be dug, and that the holy martyrs should be hanged, and that they should be beaten until they should feel the pain of their wounds, and that a great quantity of wood and stubble should be cast into the pit, and that they should be burned therein.

But when the governor saw that they were being severely flogged, he gave glory to the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.

For the love of our Lord Jesus Christ, we endure hardships, confident that after this present life we will receive the crown of the kingdom of heaven, but our Lord and God will soon destroy you because you have caused so much suffering to his innocent servants".

And when the commandment of the king was fulfilled, he commanded that they should cast upon them pitch, and that they should cast it into the pit of fire, and that they should lay it upon the wood, and that they should cover the pit with earth, and that it should not be lawful for women to gather the bones of the martyrs.

And he went into his house, and ate no food, neither drank water, and was dumb, being tormented seven days by the evil spirit of the holy angels; and after the seven days' torment the governor cast out his wicked soul, and died, and the persecution of the Christians ceased in those places.

The death of the holy martyrs Alexander and Antonina followed on the third day of the month of May [The death of the holy martyrs followed on May 3, 313, but the account of their life is suggested on June 10 because it is placed in the prologue.

Their honourable relics were subsequently transferred to Constantinople and laid in the Maximus Monastery.] , on Saturday, at nine o'clock in the afternoon, into the dominion of our Lord Jesus Christ, to whom be honor and glory forever.