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July 22: Saint Martyr Markella Hiopolitida is celebratedtranslated

July 22, 2026 · 1 min read

Today, the Church honors the memory of Saint Mary Magdalene, the Myrobearer and equal apostle, the holy martyr Markella, the Martyr Theophilos the Younger and Saint Menelaus, who was born in Presignier, France, around 700 AD, and came from an eminent aristocratic family.

By LAMBROS K. SKONTZOU, Theologian - Professor

Saint Parthenomartys Markella the Hiopolite Chios highlighted a multitude of saints of our Church. This beautiful and fragrant island of the Aegean is decorated with many of the imaginable and fragrant flowers of piety. One of them is the glorious Martyr Markella, who preferred death to dishonor.

He was born in the historic village of Volyssos, northwest of Chios. As to the time he lived there is confusion. Her biographer Saint Nikiforos of Chios mentions that she lived around 1500 AD. But the events and persons mentioned in her holy synaxari clearly refer to the early Christian centuries. He most likely lived in the 3rd or 4th century AD. At the time when idolatry was dying out and becoming, like a wounded beast, dangerous for the believers of Christ. Then when the pagans, flooded with demonic…

Source: Orthodoxia News Agency · Read the full story →

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David Turner

I didn't know the details about Volissos being her village—my cousin's wife is from there and she always said the locals still keep her memory strong with the big procession every year. The part about the biographer putting her in 1500 while the synaxarion points to the 3rd-4th century is interesting; makes you wonder how those mix-ups happen in the old texts. Thanks for the write-up, Mr. Skontzos.

Მ

მაია ლომიძე

Yes, I know Volissos, her monastery is there. The synaxari does indeed confuse the age, but it does not matter; the important thing is that he preferred death to dishonor, as the theologian writes. My cousin from those parts says that every year the street is filled with people in the procession.

نادين حداد

Iulissos, this village that the writer mentioned, I have known for a long time. My son visited the monastery there years ago and brought me a picture of the spring they call Saint Markella’s Spring. It's true what Maya said about the big celebration every year, the people there never forget it.

Ნ

ნანა კვარაცხელია

Naya, Bolisos is a really amazing place, I remember the monastery well. I have also heard that during the litany people are filled and stand still. Is your treasury also from there?