Myrope

Holy Martyr Myrope of Chios was born in the third century at Ephesus. She lost her father at an early age and was raised in the Christian faith by her mother.

In the persecution of Decius (249 to 251), Myrope went with her mother to the island of Chios, where they lived in fasting and prayer. By order of the governor, the soldier Isidore, a man of deep faith, was put to death for Christ. Myrope secretly took the martyr's body and buried it. The soldiers, who had been ordered not to let Christians take it, were condemned to death. Myrope, moved by pity, told the soldiers and then the governor what she had done, and at the trial confessed herself a Christian. For this she was cruelly beaten and thrown into prison. At midnight, while she was praying, a light shone in the prison, Saint Isidore appeared surrounded by angels, and Myrope gave her soul to God. The prison was filled with a sweet fragrance. The pagan guard, trembling at the vision, told it all to a priest; later he received baptism and a martyr's death for the confession of Christ.

The saint is commemorated on 2 December in the Orthodox calendar; the Greek synaxaria also have her on 13 July. As a saint of the early centuries, she is a saint of the undivided Church.