Susanna of Salerno

Holy Venerable Martyr Susanna of Salerno was a virgin and suffered at Salerno, around the year 293, in the time of Diocletian, together with Archelaa and Thecla.

The holy Archelaa, Thecla and Susanna lived the ascetic life in a small monastery near Rome. In the persecution of Diocletian (284-305) they put on men's clothing, cut their hair and withdrew to the Italian province of Campania. Settled in a deserted place, they went on in fasting and prayer. Receiving from God the gift of healing, they cured the local people and brought many pagans to Christ. Learning of them, the governor of the region, Leontius, ordered them brought to Salerno. He threatened Archelaa that he would give her to abuse and death if she did not sacrifice to the idols, but she, with hope in God's help, refused and rebuked the folly of those who bow to lifeless idols. The governor ordered her given to hungry lions, but the beasts lay down submissively at her feet. Enraged, he ordered the lions killed and the virgins thrown in prison.

In the morning, hanging her up, the tormentors scraped the sides of the holy Archelaa with iron tools and poured hot pitch over the wounds. She only prayed aloud: a radiance appeared above her and a voice was heard: "Do not fear, I am with you." The power of God guarded her: when they wished to crush her under a huge stone, an angel pushed the stone aside and it crushed the executioners. The judge ordered the soldiers to behead them, but the soldiers did not dare to raise a hand against the saints. Then Archelaa, Thecla and Susanna said to them: "If you do not carry out the order, you will not have honour with us." The holy martyrs were beheaded († 293).

She is commemorated on 19 June, in the new style.