Christina of Lampsacus

Holy Martyr Christina of Lampsacus suffered in the time of Emperor Decius (249-251) together with the Holy Martyrs Peter, Dionysius, Andrew and Paul. First of them to suffer was the youth Peter in the city of Lampsacus, on the Hellespont. Brought to the trial of the governor Optimus, he fearlessly confessed his faith in Christ. They forced him to renounce the Lord and to bow to the idol of the goddess Venus, but the martyr refused, declaring aloud that a Christian does not bow to the idol of a harlot. He was subjected to cruel tortures, endured them valiantly, giving thanks to the Lord Jesus Christ, who granted him His almighty help, and was cut down with the sword.

At the same time Dionysius, Nicomachus and two soldiers brought from Mesopotamia, as well as Andrew and Paul, were taken to trial. All confessed their faith in Christ and refused to sacrifice to the idols, for which they were given over to tortures. To the great grief of the Christians, Nicomachus did not hold out, renounced the Lord Jesus Christ, entered the temple and offered sacrifice. At once he was seized by a terrible possession and died in dreadful torments. Nicomachus's renunciation was heard in the crowd by a sixteen-⁠year-⁠old girl, Christina, who cried out: Wretched and lost man, for a single hour you have now won yourself eternal and unspeakable torment. The words were heard by the governor, who ordered her seized. Learning from her that she was a Christian, he gave her to be defiled by profligates. An angel came to the house where she was taken. The young men, terrified by his threatening appearance, begged the holy virgin with tears for forgiveness and asked her to pray for them, that the Lord's punishment might not befall them.

The next morning Dionysius, Andrew and Paul stood again before the governor. For their confession of faith in Christ they were given to the crowd of pagans to be torn apart. The saints were bound by the feet, dragged to the place of execution and stoned to death. During the execution Saint Christina ran up to die with the martyrs, but, by the governor's order, she was cut down with the sword. They are commemorated on 31 May (new style).