Euphrasia of Ancyra

Holy Martyr Euphrasia of Ancyra, also called Euphrosyne of Corinth, a virgin, was one of the seven virgins of Ancyra, Thecusa, Phaina, Claudia, Matrona, Julia, Alexandra and Euphrasia, who suffered at the beginning of the fourth century, together with the Holy Martyr Theodotus, in the time of the persecution of Diocletian (284-305).

Theodotus was an innkeeper in Ancyra, in Galatia, married, but he had reached high spiritual perfection: he kept purity, practised abstinence, subjected the body to the spirit by fasting and prayer, brought Jews and pagans to the Christian faith and sinners to repentance, and had received the gift of healings. In the time of the persecution a governor known for cruelty, Theotecnus, was appointed to Ancyra, who ordered all Christians to sacrifice to the idols and those who refused he gave over to torture and death.

Famine came to the land. Theodotus kept homeless Christians in his inn, fed them, hid those pursued, gave from his stores to the plundered churches what was needed for the Holy Liturgy, entered prisons without fear, helping those unjustly condemned, buried the relics of martyrs, taking them secretly or ransoming them with money from the soldiers. When the churches of Ancyra were plundered and closed, the Liturgy was celebrated in his inn.

The seven virgins, of whom the eldest was Thecusa, the aunt of Theodotus, had dedicated themselves to God from youth, living in prayer, fasting, abstinence and good works, and all had reached old age. Brought to trial as Christians, they bravely confessed their faith before Theotecnus and were tortured, but remained unshaken. Then the governor gave them to shameless youths to dishonour them. The holy virgins prayed warmly to God for help.

Thecusa fell at the feet of the youths and, taking off her veil, showed them her grey head. The youths came to their senses, wept and left. Then the governor ordered them to take part in the feast of the washing of the idols, as the pagan priestesses did, but the saints refused again, and were condemned to death. A heavy stone was tied round the neck of each, and all seven were drowned in the lake.

The next night Thecusa appeared in a dream to Theodotus, asking him to take out their bodies and bury them in a Christian way. Theodotus, taking with him his friend Polychronius and other Christians, went to the lake; the way was shown to them by a burning lamp. The martyr Sosander appeared to the pagan guard on the shore, who fled in terror, and the wind drove the water to the other side of the lake.

The Christians took the bodies of the martyrs and carried them to the church, where they buried them. Learning of this, the governor was enraged and ordered all the Christians seized and tortured. Polychronius, seized, could not bear the tortures and pointed to Theodotus as the culprit. Theodotus prepared for death for Christ, confessed his faith before the court, endured long torments, and at last his head was cut off.

The story of the life of Theodotus and of the martyrdom of the virgins was written by Nilus, a contemporary and companion of Theodotus and a witness of his death.

The Synaxarion commemorates Euphrasia on 31 May and on 19 November (new style).