St. Pelagia of Antioch, Virgin & Martyr

Commemorated on June 9

St. Pelagia (meaning “of the sea”) was a fifteen year old Christian who lived in Antioch in the fourth century.

Soldiers came in search of her, evidently during the Diocletian persecution, in order to force her to offer sacrifice to idols. She was alone in the house, and no one came forward to help her. She appeared before the soldiers, but when she learned of the order they had to execute, she requested permission to go into her house in order to put on other clothing.

Knowing that she would be dishonored by the soldiers, she went up to the roof of the house and threw herself into the sea.

She was the subject of two sermons written by St. John Chrysostom.

By permission of www.wikipedia.org