Holy Martyr Thomais

Life

Born in Alexandria of honorable parents; taught piety from childhood and in her fifteenth year married to an honorable husband. But her father-in-law was a vile old man, and in the absence of his son he assaulted his daughter-in-law and sought to dishonor her. Thomais was terrified, and in her fear she reminded her father-in-law of the law of God and tried to escape from his hands. After a long struggle, the father-in-law drew a knife and slew his daughter-in-law, cutting her body in two. At that very moment the punishment of God overtook him: he was instantly blinded and could not find the door to leave, but was found there in the room and handed over to the court, which condemned him to death. Thus Thomais suffered for the commandment of God concerning conjugal faithfulness and purity. It happened afterward that many who were tormented by the passion of lust raised their prayers to Saint Thomais and received from her powerful help. The great ascetic Daniel transferred her relics to Scetis, and there laid them in the burial ground of the priest-monks. Saint Thomais suffered in the year 476.