Christina of Caesarea

Holy Martyr Christina of Caesarea in Cappadocia suffered in the time of Emperor Diocletian, in the year 288 or 300, together with Holy Martyr Dorothea, with her sister Callista and with Holy Martyr Theophilus.

Dorothea, a Christian virgin of Caesarea in Cappadocia, was distinguished by great meekness, humility, purity and a wisdom given by God, which amazed many. Seized by order of the governor Sapricius, she firmly confessed her faith in Christ and was subjected to torments. Unable to break her, the governor gave her into the care of two sisters, Christina and Callista, who had been Christians but, fearing torments, had renounced Christ and led a pagan life. He ordered them to persuade Dorothea to sacrifice to the pagan gods. But the opposite happened: the women, convinced by Dorothea that by God's mercy salvation is granted to all who repent, repented and turned again to Christ. For this they were bound back to back and burned in a barrel of pitch. The holy sisters Christina and Callista died in torment, offering a prayer of repentance to the Lord and atoning for the sin of apostasy.

Holy Dorothea was tortured again, endured it with great joy and with the same joy received the death sentence. As she was led to execution, a learned man (scholasticus), Theophilus, said to her in mockery: Bride of Christ, send me from your Bridegroom's garden roses and apples. The martyr answered him with a nod. Before her death she asked for time to pray. When she had finished her prayer, an angel appeared to her in the form of a beautiful youth and gave her, on a clean cloth, three apples and three roses. The saint asked that they be carried to Theophilus, after which she was cut down with the sword. Receiving the gifts full of grace, the former persecutor of Christians was amazed, believed in the Saviour and confessed himself a Christian. Subjected for this to cruel tortures, Saint Theophilus received the end of martyrdom by beheading.

The relics of Saint Dorothea are in Rome, in her church, and her head also in Rome, in the church of the Mother of God in Trastevere. The saints are commemorated on 19 February (new style).