By Bishop Gregorios of Mesaoria
The Church celebrates today the memory of Saint Christina the Great Martyr, born in Tyre during the reign of Emperor Severus, around 200 AD. She was the daughter of the Roman Governor Urban. Both her parents were idolaters, but she took the decision to dedicate her life to Jesus.
When her father learnt that her daughter became Christian, she threatened her so that she renounced Christ. However, her faith was so strong that she remained unyielding. So, she imprisoned her in a tower.
That day her father met his death. This event made a powerful impression on many idolaters and infuriated the Governor Dion. Saint Christina was brutally tortured in order to renounce her faith in the One True Lord.
The successor of Dion, Julian, arrived and resumed the torture of the saint. God protected Saint Christina and healed her wounds caused by the iron nails, the wheel and the fire.
The successive miracles, which God did during her martyrdom, made many pagans, with the grace of the Holy Spirit, to convert to the true faith in Christ.
Eventually, Saint Christina reposed in the Lord when the torturers executed her with a sword. The saint gained the crown of martyrdom, when God saw her firm and steadfast confession of faith.
SOURCE: Church of Cyprus
