April 29 / April 16
The Holy Virgin-martyrs Agape, Irene, and Chionia, in Illyria (304)
All three were sisters from the vicinity of Aquileia. When Emperor Diocletian was staying in Aquileia he ordered that the distinguished spiritual father Chrysogonus be killed. At that time an aged presbyter, Zoilus, had a vision in which the location of the unburied body of Chrysogonus was revealed. Hastening, the elder found the martyred body of Chrysogonus, placed it in a coffin, and kept it in his home. Thirty days later, St. Chrysogonus appeared to him, informing him that, in the course of nine days, these three maidens would suffer martyrdom and that he, Zoilus, would also die at that time. The same news was received in a vision by Anastasia the Deliverer from Bonds (December 22), who was a disciple of Chrysogonus. Indeed, after nine days the Elder Zoilus died, and these three sisters were brought to trial before the emperor. The emperor urged these three maidens to worship idols, but they all refused and confessed their steadfast faith in Christ. Irene told the emperor that it was foolish to worship things made of stone and wood, which were ordered for an agreed price and made by the hands of a mortal man. The enraged emperor cast them into prison. When the emperor departed for Macedonia, all slaves and prisoners were taken with him, including these three saintly maidens. The emperor turned them over to a certain commander, Dulcitius, for torture. This commander, inflamed by dark passion, wanted to defile the virgins; however, when the commander attempted to enter the prison while the virgins were praying to God, he went insane. He fell among the black cauldrons and pots by the gates and began to embrace and kiss them, departing sooty and blackened. The emperor, upon hearing about this incident, ordered that another commander, Sisinius, take over the trial of these sisters. After prolonged torture, the judge condemned the first two sisters to death by burning, while he detained Irene for a while longer, hoping to defile her. But when the judge sent Irene to a brothel with the soldiers, an angel of God saved this chaste virgin by staving off the soldiers and bringing her to a hill. The next day, the commander and his soldiers went to this hill, but they were unable to ascend it. He then ordered that Irene be shot with ar- rows. St. Anastasia gathered the bodies of these three sisters into one place and honorably buried them. They all suffered honorably for Christ the King and Lord in about the year 304.
The Holy Martyr Leonidas, and with him the Martyrs Chariessa, Nika, Galina, Callista (Calisa), Nunechia, Basilissa, Theodora, and Irene, of Corinth (250)
They were thrown into the sea, but the sea received them not. They walked upon the sea as upon dry land and sang to God: “One battle have I won, O Lord, and the army pursued me; O Lord, I did not deny Thee; O Lord, save my soul!” Seeing them, the heathens at first were amazed, but they later tied stones around their necks and again threw them into the depths of the sea, where they drowned. They all suffered honorably for Christ the King and Lord in the year 281.
- Hieromartyrs Felix, bishop, and Januarius, priest, and Martyrs Fortunatus and Septimus, of Lycaonia (304). (They are also commemorated on 30 Aug. St Januarius is distinct from the Bishop of Benevento, commemorated on 21 April and 19 ).
- Virgin-martyr Engratia, at Saragossa (304).
- Fructuosus of Braga in Iberia (665).
- Martyr Lambert, at Saragossa (ca. 900).
- Theodora-Bassa, princess of Novgorod (1378).
- John, fool-for-Christ, of Verkhoturye (1701).
- New Monk-martyr Christopher of Dionysiou, Athos, at Adrianople (1818).
- Weeping Icon of the Most Holy Theotokos “Ilyin ”
- Holy Martyr Irene.
- Holy New Martyr Michael of Bourla, slain by the sword in Smyrna, in
HYMN OF PRAISE
The Holy Martyrs Agape, Chiona, and Irene
Chaste souls, chaste bodies,
Like three lilies, pure and white.
Three sisters, heroines,
Golden treasuries of the Holy Spirit.
Their blood they shed, their life they gave.
With wreaths are they crowned.
Agape—pure love,
glistening as the snow,
And Irene—namesake of peace.
In torments as in the midst of a feast,
They glorified the Living God
And the resurrected Lord:
“Most-high God, whatever we have,
Behold, to Thee we give all:
Body, soul and all pains—
Thou receivedst all into Thy hands!
From the river of fire save our bodies;
From eternal wrath save our souls!
Oh, thanks be to Thee, thatChiona!
Thou didst create us,
And didst even make us worthy of sufferings!
Three sisters, three virgins.
Martyrs for the sake of the Trinity.
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