Lydia of Illyria

Holy Martyr Lydia of Illyria was the wife of the holy martyr Philetus, mother of the martyrs Macedon and Theoprepius, and suffered with them in Illyria in the time of the emperor Hadrian (117-138). The Azbyka page tells their life together.

Philetus was a high official at the court of Hadrian, persecutor of Christians. For openly confessing faith in Christ the Saviour, Philetus, with his wife, Saint Lydia, and sons Macedon and Theoprepius, stood trial. By order of Hadrian, Philetus and his family were sent to Illyria to the commander Amphilochius, that he might subject them to torment. He ordered them hung from a tree and their bodies scraped with knives. Then the martyrs were put in prison together with the head of the prisons, Cronides, who had believed. At night an angel appeared to them and strengthened them for suffering. The next day they were plunged into a cauldron of boiling oil, but the oil cooled at once and the saints remained unharmed. The commander Amphilochius, amazed at the miracle, believed in Christ and himself entered the boiling oil, praying, and remained alive. The same torment was repeated when the emperor Hadrian came to Illyria. The martyrs were thrown again and again into boiling oil and remained alive by the power of God.

The emperor, put to shame, returned to Rome, and the holy martyrs thanked and glorified God and in prayer gave Him their souls (around 117-138). Saint Lydia is commemorated on 5 April, in the new style. Their passion is also found in the Lives of the Saints by Saint Dimitry of Rostov.