Livia of Syria

Holy Martyr Livia of Syria suffered during the great persecution of Diocletian, in the fourth century, together with her sister Leonida and a young girl named Eutropia, who may have been the daughter or niece of one of them. Their lives have not survived, and what is known comes from an old testimony in the life of the holy Venerable Martyr Febronia, who lived at the same time.

In that life the abbess of the monastery of Briena reminds Febronia of those who suffered before her for Christ and received the crown, among them men, women and children. She urges her to remember Livia and Leonida, two glorious sisters who laid down their souls for Christ: one was cut down by the sword, the other thrown into the fire, and both entered together the chamber of their heavenly Bridegroom. From this testimony it is understood that Leonida was burned alive for the confession of the faith, and Livia died by the sword.

The abbess also names Eutropia, a girl of nineteen, tormented together with her mother. The judge, having had her freed from her bonds, wished to frighten her with arrows, thinking that she would run. But she heard her mother's voice telling her to stand still, and she stood immovable like a pillar until she fell wounded with arrows and gave up her spirit to the Lord. Eutropia was simple and unlearned, the abbess writes, unlike Febronia, who had studied the Divine Scriptures well.

The life of Febronia does not give the exact date of the martyrdom of the three, and so the tradition of the Church has set their commemoration on the day of Saint Febronia, 8 July, in the new style. Saints Leonida, Livia and Eutropia are not included in today's Menologion of the Russian Church.