Sappho

Saint Sappho is one of the forty virgin ascetics commemorated on 1 September (new style) together with the deacon Ammon, their teacher. Her name is found in the Akolouthia and in the later synaxaria; the ancient account of their martyrdom preserves forty other names.

According to the synaxarion, they lived in the time of Emperor Licinius, at Adrianople in Thrace. The governor Babdos (about the year 305) seized them as Christians and told them to worship idols. Gathered in the house of Celsina, the first woman of the city, together with Ammon, they strengthened one another for martyrdom. Ammon was tortured and remained unharmed; taken with his disciples to Heraclea, to Licinius, he was thrown with them to the beasts, which fell asleep and did not touch them. Ten of the women leapt into the fire and died in peace, eight were beheaded together with Ammon, and others were stabbed or had red-⁠hot iron put in their mouths. Of Sappho no further details are preserved.