Память святых мучениц Марфы и Марии и брата их святого мученика Ликариона отрока

These martyrs lived in the country of Asia 1244, at a time when persecution was brought against the Church of Christ by kings and princes of wicked idolaters. Martha and Mary, being virgins, tried only to please the Lord and were eager to die for Him. One day a wicked commander happened to pass by their house. At this very time, Martha, opening the doors of her house, together with her sister, exclaimed, turning to the governor: The governor, together with his servants, hearing these words, did not pay attention to them and passed by. Then the sisters cried out again after the governor: To this the governor said to them: “I forgive you for the sake of your youth: it would be unpleasant for me to kill you.” To this Saint Martha exclaimed: - O governor, martyrdom is not death, but life! Hearing this, the governor became very angry and ordered the holy virgin to be taken. Then Maria left the house and said to the governor: “What my sister said, I will say the same.” Then a little youth, the brother of the martyrs, named Likarion, left the house and exclaimed: “What Martha and Mary said, I say the same, for I am a Christian.” And the governor ordered to hang all three of them on crosses. Their mother stood here and said to them: - Save yourself, my beloved children, and receive the crown from Christ. And Mary said, hanging on the cross: “May you, our mother, be saved with the fruit of your womb, for you brought us to Christ.” After this, Martha and Mary were pierced on the crosses, and Likarion was beheaded by a warrior with a sword. Asia is a province of the Roman Empire, in the west of the Asia Minor Peninsula, with the main city of Ephesus. You might be interested in: