Saint Marina the Great Martyr of Antioch

Today is the feast day of Saint Marina, who lived during the reign of Claudius II in the third century.

She was born to pagan parents - in fact, her father was a priest who sacrificed to idols. At the age of 12 her mother died, and she was handed over to the care of a Christian woman who immediately began to teach her about Christ. When her father found out that she had become a Christian, she was immediately disowned.

By the age of 15 she had grown into a beautiful young woman, catching the lustful attention of the local governor Olymbrius. He demanded she marry him, which she refused. Angered by this, the governor ordered her to sacrifice to idols, which she also refused, declaring, "My name is Marina; I am the offspring of the Pisidia; I call upon the Name of my Lord Jesus Christ."

Filled with more rage, the governor handed her to torturers who began to purposefully deface her, stripping her of her natural beauty, and whipping her many times. In prison she was tempted by demons, but drove them away with prayer. According to tradition, one demon was so amazed by her strength that he actually appeared to her in tangible form. Seeing the demon, Marina immediately grabbed a nearby hammer and proceeded to beat the demon until it retreated.

For her faith, the Lord healed Marina, restoring her to her former beauty. Seeing this the governor ordered her beheaded, fulfilling her martyrdom.

Adorned with the beauty of Purity, O Virgin; crowned with the stigmata of martyrdom; stained with the blood of your struggles; and brilliantly radiant with healing wonders, piously, O Marina, you received the trophy of victory for your struggles.
--Kontakion in the Third Tone