The Church commemorates Venerable Anthusa the Confessor. She lived in the 8th century AD.
Her parents, Stratigios and Febronia, were notable for their piety and they raised their daughter with the same values.
In spite of all the marriage proposals, Anthusa chose the path of devotion to God. When her parents passed away, she did not change her mind and distributed her belongings to charity and sacred causes.
Anthusa was responsible for the construction of two monasteries, namely the Monastery of Saint Anna in Mantineo and the Church of the Holy Apostles that was used as a women’s monastery.
When Emperor Constantine Kopronymos ordered a fierce persecution against the holy icons and their supporters, the monastery of Venerable Anthusa was one of the most ardent centers of Orthodoxy.
That is why Venerable Anthusa was tortured in the beginning. But when, by the providence of God, Saint Anthusa predicted that the sick queen would not die and give birth to twins, he was favored by her.
The queen supported the monastery of Venerable Anthusa in various ways. Undisturbed, she continued her glorious work until she reposed in the Lord peacefully.
Source: Church of Cyprus
