Chrysanthus and Daria

Holy Martyrs Chrysanthus and Daria were a Christian husband and wife of Rome, put to death for the faith in the third century, in the year 283, in the time of the emperor Numerian (according to other sources, in 256). The Orthodox Church commemorates them on 19 March, and the Catholic Church on 25 October. Their names appear in the Martyrologium Hieronymianum, an early list of martyrs, and a church in their honour was built over their reputed grave in Rome.

Chrysanthus came from Alexandria and, together with his pagan father, moved to Rome, where he studied in a school of philosophy. During his studies he read the books of the New Testament and resolved to become a Christian. He found the priest Carpophorus, who was hiding from persecution and who instructed Chrysanthus in the faith for several months, then baptized him, and Chrysanthus began to preach Christianity openly.

The father of Chrysanthus, wishing to turn him back to paganism, married him to Daria, a priestess of Athena Pallas, but Chrysanthus turned his wife to Christianity, and they resolved to lead a virgin life. The townsfolk complained to the authorities that Chrysanthus and Daria urged an unmarried life and had been able to bring many to it. The couple were brought to trial, where they were subjected to torments, being required to offer sacrifice to the pagan gods. After vain attempts to persuade them to renounce Christ, the couple were put to death: they were lowered alive into a pit and covered with stones and earth.

The place of the martyrdom of Chrysanthus and Daria began to be venerated by Christians, who gathered in a cave near the place of their death. One day, while the service was being held, the cave was filled with earth, by order of the governor. There the priest Diodorus, the deacon Marian and many clergy met a martyr's end. Their commemoration is on the same day as that of Chrysanthus and Daria.

People pray to Saints Chrysanthus and Daria for happiness in marriage, for the keeping of love and faithfulness between spouses and for the protection of the home. The image of Saint Daria is often painted together with a lion: according to church tradition, her persecutors gave her over to a brothel, but there a lion sent by God guarded her. A church in the Ipatiev Monastery is dedicated to Saints Chrysanthus and Daria.