Cloud of Witnesses
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Martyr2nd century

Virgin Martyr Glyceria at Heraclea

d. c. 177

Also known as Glykeria of Heraclea

A maiden of noble family at Heraclea in Thrace who openly confessed Christ before the idols, endured many torments by the help of God, and received the crown of martyrdom under Antoninus.

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Commemorated as

The Holy Virgin-Martyr Glyceria of Heraclea

Life

Saint Glyceria was a virgin-martyr of the second century who suffered for Christ at Heraclea in Thrace during the reign of the emperor Antoninus (138-161). Born into an illustrious family - her father Macarius having been a high-ranking Roman official - she embraced Christianity as a young woman and, when commanded to sacrifice to the idols, openly confessed Christ before the pagan assembly.

The synaxarion relates that she endured many torments by the help of God: fire that would not burn her, stones that would not strike her, and wounds healed in prison by an angel. Her steadfastness moved her jailer to faith and his own martyrdom, and she received the crown of martyrdom when she was given to wild beasts. Her relics were glorified by a flow of healing myrrh, and she is commemorated on May 13.

Kontakion & Troparion2 hymnsReadHide
KontakionTone 3

(Podoben: “Today the virgin...”) Through your love for Mary, the Virgin Theotokos,
you preserved your virginity, O Glykeria.
You surrendered your heart to the Lord
and fought bravely until your death.
Therefore, Christ God has granted you a double crown.

Text used with permission of the Orthodox Church in America (oca.org).

TroparionTone 3

(Podoben: “Awed by the beauty...”) Let us honor Christ's beautiful virgin who excelled in the pain of contest.
She trampled upon the serpent although she was weak in the flesh.
For the love of Christ she despised her torments and was therefore glorified by God.
Let us cry to her:
“Rejoice, O godly-minded Glykeria.”

Text used with permission of the Orthodox Church in America (oca.org).

Timeline4 momentsReadHide
  1. early lifeNoble birth and conversionGlyceria was born into a distinguished family; her father Macarius had served as a high Roman official. After losing both parents at an early age, she came to live at Trajanopolis in Thrace, where, falling in with Christians, she was converted to the faith and attended church daily.
  2. the imperial edictConfession before the idol of ZeusWhen the prefect Sabinus received the imperial order that all should offer sacrifice, he appointed a day for the people to worship the idol of Zeus. Glyceria entered the temple, signed her forehead with the Cross, and by her account a peal of thunder was heard and the statue of Zeus crashed down and shattered to pieces.
  3. imprisonmentTorments and the angelEnraged, Sabinus had her stoned, but the stones did not strike her; she was imprisoned, and angels sustained her. Taken to Heraclea, she was cast into a red-hot furnace which was at once extinguished, her head was flayed, and she was thrown onto sharp stones, but an angel appeared in the prison and healed her of her wounds.
  4. c. 177Martyrdom by wild beastsGlyceria was sentenced to be devoured by wild beasts. One lioness loosed upon her crept up and lay meekly at her feet; a second pounced and killed her, yet did not tear her apart. Bishop Dometius and the local Christians reverently buried her, and her relics were glorified by a flow of healing myrrh.

Contributions & Legacy

1 contributionsReadHide

Laodicius the jailer

Her prison-keeper, Laodicius, having seen the saint healed of her wounds, at first did not recognize her and, fearing she had escaped, was about to take his own life until she stopped him. Shaken by the miracle, he believed in Christ and asked her prayers that he too might suffer for the faith; he was beheaded, becoming a martyr alongside her.

Companions1 figureShowHide
Her prison-keeper, converted by the miracle of her healing and beheaded for Christ
Martyr Laodiciusthe Prison-Keeper
Related Saints1 saintShowHide

Saints connected to her life, mission, and place in Orthodox tradition.

A righteous maiden of sixteenth-century Novgorod who shares her name; the two are distinct.
Righteous Virgin Glyceriaof Novgorod

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Sources: OCA Synaxarion (oca.org), Lives of the Saints