Christina, the holy martyr

Saint Christina was martyred in the third century. She lived in Tyre with her father, the powerful commander Urbanus, and her mother during the days of the Roman Emperor Septimius Severus (194-211). They were all pagans, and her name was not yet Christina, but she was given this name after she knew Christ and believed in Him.

ولما كانت الفتاة جميلة جدا حبسها والدها في برج عالٍ حيث وفّر لها كل أسباب الرفاهية ووضع أصناما في غرفتها لتقدم لها العبادة يوميا. كانت خريستينا تقضي الوقت في تأمل الطبيعة التي كانت تراها من النافذة: الشمس والقمر والنجوم والنبات والحيوان والإنسان، وفهمت أن الأصنام التي يصنعها البشر لا يمكن أن تكون آلهة، وانه لا بد من أن يكون هناك إله خالق واحد. أتت نعمة الله عليها وقادتها إلى معرفة الحق. ثم أُرسل إليها ملاك علّمها كلما كانت قد شعرت به بطريقة غامضة في قلبها عن الله والخليقة، وأسماها خريستينا أي “مسيحية”.

أتى والداها إليها وطلبا أن تقدّم العبادة للأصنام فرفضت وقالت أنها صارت تلميذة المسيح النور الحقيقي الذي أتى إلى العالم. بعد ذلك وبالرغم من كل محاولات والدها لاستمالتها، حطمت خريستينا كل الأصنام الموجودة في غرفتها. فغضب والدها وأرسلها إلى السجن والعذاب على أن يُقطع رأسها في الصباح  التالي. لكنه مات في تلك الليلة عينها.

A commander named Dion came in his place and continued to torture Christina severely in various ways, but he died and the saint remained steadfast. A commander named Julianus took his place and ordered her to be tortured, parts of her body to be cut off, her to be locked in a burning oven and thrown into a pit with snakes and wild animals. Many believed in Christ after witnessing Christina's suffering and perseverance. Finally, the soldiers killed her, and she received the crown of martyrdom while she was still a young girl in the prime of her life.

The church commemorates her on July 24.

Troparion of the Fourth Torah
Your ewe, O Jesus, cries out to you with a loud voice, saying: O my Bridegroom, I long for you, and I strive to seek you, and I am crucified and buried with you in your baptism, and I suffer for you so that I may reign with you, and I die for you so that I may live through you, but as a spotless sacrifice accept her who was sacrificed to you with longing, so through her intercessions, since you are merciful, save our souls.

Qandaq with the fourth tune
You have been known as a dove with a radiant countenance, bearing golden wings, flying to the height of names, O pure Christina, so we raise your glorious hand, prostrating in faith to the basin of your members, from which you pour out to all in truth a divine healing for souls and envy.