Leonida of Syria

Holy Martyr Leonida of Syria suffered in the time of the great persecution of Christians in the reign of the emperor Diocletian (fourth century), with her sister Libya and the maiden Eutropia, perhaps her daughter or niece. The Azbyka page honours all three, Leonida, Libya and Eutropia of Syria.

The lives of these martyrs have not come down to us, but they are mentioned in the life of the venerable martyr Febronia, their contemporary. This hagiographic monument preserves the words of the abbess of the Vrienna monastery to Febronia: "Remember the sufferers who before you suffered manfully for Christ and have now received the crown from Him, among whom there were not only men, but also women and children. Recall Libya and Leonida, those glorious sisters who bravely laid down their souls for Christ. For Libya and Leonida, one cut down with the sword, the other cast into the fire, together entered the chamber of their heavenly Bridegroom. Remember the nineteen-⁠year-⁠old girl Eutropia, who was tormented with her mother. Did you not always marvel at her obedience and patience? You know how the judge, freeing her from her bonds, wished to frighten her with arrows, thinking she would run from them. But she heard her mother's voice saying to her: my child, Eutropia, stand, and the girl stood manfully like an unmoved pillar, until she was all wounded with arrows: then she fell to the ground, giving her spirit to the Lord. That girl was simple and unlearned; but you have learned the Divine Books well and have been a good teacher to many. Think then how manfully you ought to stand for your Lord".

From this witness we learn that Saint Leonida was burned alive for confessing the faith of Christ. The life of the venerable martyr Febronia does not give the exact date of the martyr's death of Leonida, Libya and Eutropia, and so church tradition keeps their commemoration on the day of Saint Febronia. Saint Leonida is commemorated on 8 July, in the new style. Her name is not in the present calendar of the Russian Orthodox Church.