Слово 47. Похвальное о некоторой добропобедной мученице, по имени Потамия, что значит «речная»

Let us sing to the river of the same name, the servant of Christ, who in spiritual and physical beauty far surpassed many young women, and bravely fought through martyrdom for piety, and at the same time for chastity, her soul burning with the divine love of Christ. This one at first endured many sorrows from her master, resisting his fornication, with whom she was then handed over to the God-hating judge for torment for the fact that she honors Christ, for passionate love, being despised, usually turns into hatred. Having endured many torments for Christ at the trial, she finally learned that she was condemned to a cauldron lit by fire and filled with intensely boiling tar. But even at the same time, she did not forget her chaste modesty, but begged the judge, conjuring him with the royal health, so that he would not order the tormenting servants to expose her, but would allow her to do it herself. By God's will, the judge agreed to this. Then, with great joy, as if intending to wash herself in a bathhouse, she climbed into the boiling cauldron, and, as she immersed herself in it, she gradually picked up her scum until she was immersed all the way to her cleanest breasts and her immaculate neck. This is how the martyr of Christ ended her life, having received crowns and the beginnings of glory and endless life, which she now joyfully enjoys with all the firstborn. You might be interested in: