Matrona of Ancyra

Holy Martyr Matrona of Ancyra (also called of Corinth) was a virgin and one of seven holy women who suffered at Ancyra in Galatia in the early fourth century: Thecusa, Phaina, Claudia, Matrona, Julia, Alexandra and Euphrasia. Their story is bound up with that of the Holy Martyr Theodotus, who buried their bodies. Both accounts were written down by Nilus, a contemporary and companion of Theodotus and a witness of his death.

Theodotus the innkeeper

Theodotus kept an inn and had a family, yet lived in purity and temperance, in fasting and prayer. Through his words many Jews and pagans came to the faith and sinners to amendment, and he had the gift of healing by laying his hands on the sick. When the governor Theotecnus, known for his cruelty, began Diocletian's persecution, many Christians fled, and those who stayed were tormented and robbed. Famine came as well. Theodotus opened his inn to the homeless, fed and hid them, brought the ruined churches what they needed for the Liturgy, entered the prisons without fear and buried the bodies of the martyrs, taking them secretly or ransoming them from the soldiers. When the city's churches were closed, the Liturgy was served in his inn. Feeling that he too would be called to martyrdom, he told the priest Fronto that a martyr's relics would be brought to a place the two had chosen, and gave him his ring as a sign.

The seven virgins

The eldest of the virgins, Thecusa, was Theodotus' aunt. All seven had given themselves to God in youth and reached old age in prayer, fasting and good works. Brought to trial as Christians, they confessed Christ and stood firm under torture. The governor then handed them over to young men to be dishonoured, but Thecusa took off her veil and showed them her white hair, and the youths wept and went away. Then they refused to take part in the feast of the "washing of the idols" and were condemned: with a heavy stone tied to each neck, all seven were drowned in a lake.

The burial and the martyrdom of Theodotus

The following night Thecusa appeared to Theodotus in a dream and asked him to recover their bodies. Theodotus set out for the lake with his friend Polychronius and other believers, guided by a lamp. The pagan guards, terrified by the appearance of the holy Martyr Sosander, fled, and the wind drove the water to the far shore, so the bodies could be carried to the church and buried. In fury the governor ordered the Christians seized; Polychronius, unable to bear the torture, gave Theodotus up. Theodotus left his body to the priest Fronto, confessed Christ before the judge, endured long torment and was at last beheaded, on 7 June 303 or 304. A storm prevented the soldiers from burning his body. Fronto, passing by with a donkey laden with wine, saw the animal fall beside the body, understood God's arrangement, carried the holy remains to the place Theodotus had named and later built a church there.

The memory of Saint Matrona is kept on 31 May (18 May in the old style), the day of the virgins' death, and on 19 November, in the new style.