Calisa of Corinth

Holy Martyr Calisa of Corinth died for Christ around the year 250, in the time of Decius, drowned in the sea together with the Holy Martyr Leonides and other women martyrs. The Church commemorates them on 29 April (new style).

Saint Leonides was born in the Peloponnese and was leader of a spiritual choir of women. In the persecution of Decius, the choir went on singing hymns and prayers of thanksgiving. While the other Christians of the region hid and tried to escape searches, the women led by Leonides showed an unequalled courage, being the only ones who openly confessed the Christian faith. They were all arrested a few days before Pascha, in the city of Troezen in Argolis, and taken to Corinth, to the governor Venustus. Among them were Chariesse, Victoria (Nike), Galina, Calisa (Callida), Nunechia, Basilissa, Theodora and Irene.

Seated on a high throne, Venustus promised Leonides glory and wealth if he would sacrifice to the gods. Leonides answered calmly and smiling: "I myself renounced falsehood long ago and fear only for you, for your error leads to eternal death." The judge decided that the time had come for torture, and the saint said: "If you wish it, try my body with fire and see that, when the corruptible flesh is hurt, my soul will remain untouched and will rejoice at its swift release from the bonds that tie it to mortal life."

Then the virgins were brought before the governor. He tried to persuade them that their teacher had agreed to offer a pagan sacrifice. They were not deceived and answered: "We too will offer, with all our heart, a sacrifice to our Lord Jesus Christ." Seeing that he could not persuade them, he shut them in prison. Summoning Leonides again, he urged him to obey the emperor. Leonides stood unmoved: "All that the Master of heaven and earth commands I fulfil with reverence. What the emperors command I fulfil only if it is right, and if not, I do not consider myself bound to obey." In fury the governor ordered his skin stripped from him alive and his sides burned with torches. In the meantime he resumed the interrogation of the virgins and asked whether they were of the same stock as Leonides. "Though we are of different origin and sex, we are one in faith and in life," they answered. "You will be subjected to the same torments," Venustus announced. The executioners carried out the order at once, but even by torments they could learn nothing. The saints said only: "We are Christians and ready to endure any suffering for Christ." So the judge resolved to throw Leonides and his disciples into the sea.

They were led along the shore, and Chariesse began to sing, like Miriam, the sister of Moses, after the Red Sea swallowed the army of Pharaoh (Exodus 15:20). Her song was taken up by her companions: "I ran the course, O Lord, an army pursued me, O Lord, and I did not renounce You, O Lord, save my soul." On Holy Saturday the saints were put on a ship, where they went on singing. When the ship had gone about six kilometres, stones were tied to their necks and their hands behind their backs. First Leonides was thrown into the sea. Before the waves covered him, the saint said: "Today I receive a second baptism, for the cleansing of the inner man." Then the virgins were given to the waves. Later their bodies were found by pious Christians on the shore, and a great church hallowed the place of their burial.