Martha

Holy Martyr Martha was a Christian virgin of Persia in the fourth century, daughter of Saint Pusai. Her father was killed on 18 April 341, and she suffered the next day, Pascha, 19 April 341, under King Shapur II, at Seleucia, along with other Persian martyrs. In the time of Shapur, in response to the Christianization of the Roman Empire under Constantine the Great, Christians were persecuted. It is said that on that day nine virgins consecrated to God were martyred, while the others were priests, deacons and monks, who would not worship the sun and had been kept six months in prison. A rich and devout woman, Yaznadokht, fed them and even prepared a banquet in their honor. They were condemned to beheading, and Yaznadokht took the bodies and burned them to keep them from being desecrated. Martha is commemorated on 19 April.