Vasila

Holy Martyr Vasila suffered in the year 262, in the time of the Emperor Gallienus, and was a disciple of the Venerable Eugenia of Rome.

She came from an aristocratic family of Rome. Her parents died when she was young, leaving her an orphan, and her uncle, a pagan, cared for her. She had been betrothed to Pompeius, also of an aristocratic family, but the wedding was postponed because Vasila was not yet of age. Hearing often of Jesus Christ and of Eugenia, her virginal life and the miracles worked by the power of Jesus Christ, she began to believe and wished to meet Eugenia. As her betrothed made it impossible for her to go to Eugenia, Vasila sent a servant to Eugenia asking her to guide her by letters in the Christian faith. Eugenia judged that faith cannot be transmitted by letter as well as by the living word and sent her eunuchs, Protus and Hyacinth. Vasila received them gladly, and they often spoke with her about Christianity. Having become a Christian, she was baptized by Pope Cornelius of Rome; after that her uncle also passed to Christianity.

When Gallienus's persecution began, Eugenia told Vasila that she had had a vision: she would soon suffer. Pompeius, learning of it, came to Vasila's palace and demanded to enter, but she would not let him. Then he asked the emperor's help, who ordered that Vasila be forced to marry or be killed by the sword. When the soldiers came to her and told her the imperial command, she refused to marry Pompeius and was at once slain with the sword. The Serbian Church commemorates her on 24 December by the old calendar (6 January by the new).