Holy Martyr Glyceria

Life

The daughter of a certain governor of Rome. Having been orphaned at the death of her father, Glyceria settled in Trajanopolis in Thrace. In the time of the impious Emperor Antoninus, Glyceria was brought forth to offer sacrifice to the idol of Zeus. She traced the sign of the cross upon her forehead; and when the imperial governor asked her where her lamp was (for all carried lamps in their hands), Glyceria pointed to the cross on her forehead and said: "This is my lamp." At her prayer, a bolt of thunder struck the idol and shattered it to pieces. The governor was enraged and ordered that she be beaten and thrown into prison. And the governor sealed the prison doors, resolved to kill the maiden by starvation. But an angel of God appeared to Glyceria and gave her heavenly food. After a certain time, when the governor thought that the martyr must have perished from hunger, he opened the prison and was astonished when he saw her healthy, radiant, and joyful. The jailer Laodicius, seeing this miracle, himself confessed Christ the Lord and was immediately beheaded. After this Glyceria was cast into a fiery furnace, but she remained unharmed by the fire. Standing in the midst of the fire, she praised the Lord, recalling the miracle of the Three Youths in the Babylonian furnace. Finally she was cast before the lions, and having prayed to God, this holy virgin gave up her soul to the Lord, for Whom she had heroically endured many torments. She suffered honorably in the year 177. From her relics there flowed a healing myrrh, by which the sick were healed of the most grievous diseases.

From the Hymn of Praise

— Glyceria, sacrifice to the gods!Commands the mindless judge.Or in fire thou must be consumed.Glyceria mocks the judge: