Menodora of Bithynia

Holy Martyr Menodora of Bithynia, together with her sisters Metrodora and Nymphodora, suffered in the time of Maximian (305-311). The three virgins were sisters by blood from Bithynia, in Asia Minor. Marked by piety, the Christian sisters wished to keep their life in virginity and to have no dealings with the world. They chose a secluded place in the desert and passed their life in struggles of fasting and prayer. The news of their holy life soon spread, since by their prayers the sick were healed. Bithynia was then governed by an official named Fronto, who ordered them seized and brought to him. At first he tried to persuade them to renounce Christ, promising great honours and gifts. But the holy sisters firmly confessed their faith before him, rejecting all his offers, and told him that they did not value passing earthly goods and were ready to die for their Heavenly Bridegroom. Enraged, the governor turned his fury on the eldest, Saint Menodora. The saint bravely bore the torments and at last cried, "Lord Jesus Christ, joy of my heart, my hope, receive my soul in peace." and with these words gave up her spirit to God.

After four days the younger sisters, Metrodora and Nymphodora, were brought to trial. Before them, to frighten them, the wounded body of their eldest sister was laid. The virgins wept for her, but remained unmoved. Then Saint Metrodora was tortured, and she died calling on the Lord Jesus Christ, whom she loved, to her last breath. Then the third sister, Nymphodora, was brought. Before her lay the bodies of her slain elder sisters. Fronto hoped that this sight would terrify the young virgin. Pretending to pity her youth and beauty, he began gently to persuade her to worship the pagan gods, promising great rewards and honours. Saint Nymphodora, rejecting his words, shared the lot of her elder sisters. She was tortured to death with blows of iron rods.

They wished to burn the bodies of the holy martyrs on a pyre, but a heavy rain put out the fire that had been lit, and lightning scorched Fronto and his servants. The Christians took the bodies of the sisters and buried them with honour near the so-⁠called Warm Waters in Pythia (Bithynia). Part of the relics of the holy martyrs is kept on Athos, in the Protection cathedral of the Russian monastery of Saint Panteleimon, and the hand of Saint Metrodora is on the Holy Mountain in the Pantokrator monastery. Menodora is commemorated on 23 September, in the new style.