St. Praepedigna, Martyr, along her husband and children at Rome

Commemorated on August 11

In the third century, St. Praepedigna, along with her husband, Claudius, and their sons, Alexander and Cythius, were ordered by their relative, Emperor Diocletian, to visit a young maiden, Susanna. Their intention was to convince Susanna to enter into marriage with Diocletian’s co-emperor, Maximian.

However, after speaking with Susanna and her pious family, St. Praepedigna, along with her husband and sons, accepted Baptism. Having learned that the entire family had been converted to Christianity, Diocletian sent them into exile.

Upon the orders of Diocletian, St. Praepedigna, along with her husband and sons, were burned at Ostia, not far from Rome, and their ashes were thrown into the sea.

By permission of the Orthodox Church in America (www.oca.org)