Holy Martyr Christina

Life

Christina was from the city of Tyre, the daughter of the imperial governor Urban, an idolater. It is not known for what reasons her parents gave her this name, Christina, but it concealed within itself the mystery of her future following of Christ. Until her eleventh year she knew nothing of Christ. And when she turned eleven, her father, wishing to hide her from the world on account of her extraordinary beauty until she was fully grown, assigned her the highest floor of a tall tower, that she might live there. He arranged every comfort for her life, gave her handmaidens to serve her, and placed in her chambers idols of silver and gold, that she might offer sacrifices to them daily. But the soul of the young Christina was distressed in that idolatrous setting. Gazing through the window by day at the sun and all the beauties of the world, and by night at the wondrous host of brilliant stars, she by her natural reason arrived at a firm belief in the one living God. The merciful God, seeing her longing for the truth, sent His angel to her, who sealed her with the sign of the Cross, called her the bride of Christ, and instructed her fully in the knowledge of God. Then Christina smashed all the idols in her chambers, and thereby provoked a savage fury in her father. Her father brought her to trial and delivered her to torments, and then cast her into a dungeon, intending to behead her with a sword the next day. But that night, while still in full health, Urban gave up his soul and went to the grave before his daughter. After that, two governors, Dion and Julian, continued the torturing of this holy virgin. Christina's courage in suffering and the miracles she wrought by the power of God converted many pagans of Tyre to Christianity. During the torturing of Christina, Dion suddenly fell dead in the midst of the people. His successor Julian cut off Christina's breasts and tongue. The martyr took her own tongue in her hand and hurled it into Julian's eyes. And he at once became blind. At last, her sufferings for Christ were ended by death under a sharp sword, and her life continued in the immortal angelic kingdom. The holy Christina suffered honorably in the third century.

From the Hymn of Praise

The glorious martyr, the virgin Christina,The chosen bride of the Son of God,In her father she had the blackest foe,By him she was torn asunder with iron.