Polychronia

Holy Martyr Polychronia was the mother of the Holy Great Martyr George the Trophy-⁠bearer and came from the city of Lydda (Diospolis) in Palestine, of a renowned and noble race. She was modest, brave and filled with temperance, kindness and sweetness, and her soul loved above all God, prayer and humility. She spent her time reading the Divine Scriptures and praying, accompanying her prayers and vigils with continence and fasting. Detached from the earth, her mind was lifted to heaven and immersed in divine vision, and she let the everlasting fragrance of her spiritual life diffuse in the idolatrous environment of her husband Gerontios.

She secretly raised her son in the discipline and admonition of the Lord and imparted to him her fervent love for Christ and deep reverence. When he faced martyrdom, she was constantly close to him, in prison and at the place of martyrdom, always taking care to strengthen him with the Spotless Mysteries. When Emperor Diocletian saw her speaking to Saint George, he called her and asked who she was. She replied with spiritual courage: "My name is Polychronia and I am a Christian, like my son George, whom you think you are punishing, while he is being crowned by Christ the King." Enraged, Diocletian ordered her tortured at once. They suspended her on a tree and subjected her to even greater torments: they tore the flesh from her body with iron handcuffs so that her innards were visible, then burned her wounds with lit candles. She remained steadfast in faith and courageous in thought. The executioners went on, placing red-⁠hot iron shoes on her feet with tongs. Saint Polychronia, with the consolation of the Paraclete, conquered her pains and delivered her holy soul peacefully into God's hands. Her relics were secretly taken by Christians, who buried her while praising God. She is commemorated on 23 April (new style; 6 May on the old calendar).