Helikonis of Corinth

Holy Martyr Helikonis of Corinth was born at Thessalonica in the third century and was raised a Christian. In the time of the emperors Gordian and Philip (Gordian III and Philip the Arab) she moved to Corinth, where she rebuked all who offered sacrifices to idols. The Serbian Church commemorates her on 28 May by the old calendar, which is 10 June by the new.

When the governor Perennius advised her to offer sacrifice to the idol Asclepius, Helikonis answered that she was a servant of Christ and did not know who Asclepius was, and that he might do as he wished. For this she was brought to trial and tormented with grievous torments: she was imprisoned and tortured with pitch and fire. According to Christian tradition, she was thrown into a fire, but much blood poured from her body and put out the fire, and she remained alive. She was thrown before lions, but they did not attack her. Allowed into the temple to offer sacrifice to the idols, she smashed the idols (according to the Bulgarian source, the statues of Athena, Zeus and Asclepius), and by this she angered her tormentor still more.

It is also related that, while she lay wounded in prison, the Lord Jesus Christ himself appeared to her with the archangels Michael and Gabriel, healed her wounds, and comforted and strengthened her. According to the Bulgarian source, after Perennius was replaced by Antipater Justin, the new governor again forced her to renounce the Christian faith and, when she refused again, she was thrown into a furnace, in which, according to her Life, the flames did not touch her. After other torments Helikonis died. The Serbian source mentions only Perennius.

She was then led out to the place of execution to be beheaded with the sword, and Justin condemned her to beheading. Before the stroke she prayed that God would receive her in paradise. Christians believe that at the end of the prayer a voice was heard from heaven, calling her to come, for both the crown and the throne were ready. Then her head was cut off with the sword. She was buried with great reverence and honour by the local Christians.