Saint Victoria of Ephesus, as researchers suggest, was martyred during the reign of one of the two Roman rulers of the first centuries AD. - or Decius Tayan, or Diocletian. The persecution of Christians by these kings was in the nature of mass physical destruction with particular cruelty.
Memorial Day and venerated icons of St. Victoria of Ephesus
Days of celebration of the memory of Victoria of Ephesus
The Orthodox Church celebrates the memory of the Holy Martyr Victoria of Ephesus June 7(May 25 old style).
Revered icons
In the court church-basilica of St. Apollinaris (otherwise: Sant "Apollinare Nuovo), erected in Ravenna, Italy at the initiative of King Theodoric in the 5th - 6th centuries, a mosaic image of the holy martyr Victoria has been preserved.
What helps and what to pray for in front of the icon of the Holy Martyr Victoria
Believers turn to the saint with requests for prayerful intercession before the Lord in dangers and difficult life situations.
Named Christian women pray to their heavenly patroness in sorrows and joys, glorifying God, wondrous in their saints.
Prayer to the Holy Martyr Victoria
Troparion, tone 4
Your Lamb, Jesus, Victoria, calls with a great voice: I love you, my bridegroom, and seek you, I suffer and crucify and bury for Your Baptism and suffering for Your sake, as if I reign in You and die for You, and I live with You; but as an immaculate sacrifice, accept me, with love offered to Thee. Toya with prayers, like the Merciful, save our souls.
Kontakion, voice 2
Your all-honorable temple, as if you have found spiritual healing, all the faithful loudly cry out to you: the great-named virgin martyr Victoria, pray unceasingly to Christ God for all of us.
magnificence
We magnify you, the passion-bearer of Christ Victoria, and honor your honest suffering, if you suffered for Christ.
Life of the Holy Martyr Victoria
According to presumable information, the holy martyr Victoria suffered in 249-251, according to other sources - in 284-305. These periods are the years of the reign of the most intolerant of the Christian faith of the Roman kings Decius Trajan and Diocletian. Both emperors, in comparison with other persecutors of the first centuries, destroyed the largest number of people who confess Christ as the Lord God.
It can be assumed that Victoria suffered during the time of Decius Trajan. For the city of Ephesus was most famous for its martyrs for Christ during the reign of Trajan in the Roman Empire. Especially famous are the seven youths of Ephesus, who were walled up alive in a cave by order of Decius; as well as the martyrs Dionysius, Maxim, Porfiry of Ephesus and many others.
Also, according to other studies of researchers, there is evidence that Victoria was martyred along with Saints Saturninus, Saturus, Timaeus, Tomun, Victoria, Istial and Flavin of Ephesus.
It is no coincidence that Ephesus became famous for such a number of known and unknown to us holy martyrs of Christ. After all, this city was one of the main pagan centers where there was a temple, or rather, a temple in honor of the Great pagan goddess Artemis. A pagan cult flourished here. Huge masses of citizens of the Roman Empire erred from the One God, worshiping soulless idols, creations of human hands. And we know the spiritual law: that which is not of God will soon be destroyed. And so it happened with the pagan cult. For with the blood of such holy martyrs of Christ as Victoria, faith in the One was planted and spread in Ephesus. True God- Creator of the universe.
In 2011, for the first time in the liturgical practice of the Russian Orthodox Church the names of the Spanish holy martyrs of the first centuries of Christianity are included in the calendar of calendars and liturgical calendars for prayerful remembrance, affirmation and edification in the faith of the living: Aciskla and Victoria Kordubsky. This made it possible to resolve numerous parish disputes about in honor of which saint it is necessary to perform the sacrament of Baptism of the newly enlightened with the name Victoria. In parish practice during Baptism, they used different names when naming - for example, Nika, Virineya or Veronica, which is incorrect, since these are independent names, despite the similarity of translation and pronunciation, their use when naming a name is considered incorrect. The first divine service in Slavonic for Saints Atsisklu and Victoria was held in November 2010 at the Church of All Saints on Sokol in Moscow. Now all parishes of the Russian Orthodox Church have the opportunity to prayerfully honor these saints.
Your attention is invited to the life of Sts. mchch. Aciskla and Victoria Kordubsky. This is the first publication of the Lives of Sts. mchch. Atsiskla and Victoria in Russian (translated by the deacon of our church, Father Dionisy Kuprichenkov)
On the day of the holiday and the day before. during the all-night vigil, in our church there will be a particle of the relics of the martyr Victoria, to which it will be possible to venerate during the Divine service.
This text is based on the Lives of the Saints published in Madrid in 1794 "Adiciones AL AÑO CHRISTIANO Del Padre Croiset, SEGÚN EL MÉTODO DEL MISMO PADRE, CORRESPONDIENTES Á LOS MESES de oktubre, noviembre y diciembre" (Madrid 1794), by Antonio Moyano Ruiz "The Holy Martyrs of Cordoba" (Antonio Moyano Ruiz "LOS SANTOS MÁRTIRES DE CÓRDOBA" Cordoba 1975) and data published in " Orthodox Encyclopedia"(M. 2002).
The Spanish city of Córdoba is so ancient and magnificent that it gave birth to outstanding people: in times of war, heroes of weapons, and in peacetime, famous politicians, religious figures, philosophers and poets. This is the birthplace of the glorious martyrs of Jesus Christ Atsiskla and Victoria, who accepted martyrdom during the persecution of the Roman emperor Diocletian in 304.
We do not know anything about the childhood of the holy brother and sister Atsisla and Victoria. Antonio Moyano Ruiz, in his book The Holy Martyrs of Cordoba, suggests that they were natives of Cordoba or its environs, led a righteous life, and were brought up by the noble matron of Cordoba, Mintsiana. Seeing the steadfast faith and courage of confessing Christ before the authorities, we can assume that they received an excellent secular education and were brought up in the Christian faith. They organized a small church in their house, where Christians gathered and celebrated the Holy Eucharist.
The Roman emperor Diocletian (284-305) sought to destroy Christianity throughout the empire. In 303 and 304, he issued four edicts one after the other against Christians, which subjected them to the most bloody persecution in the entire history of that time. This was the last attempt by pagan Rome to deliver a mortal blow to the Church, costing him his life. Diocletian sent his governor Dion to Cordoba, who persecuted Christians with particular cruelty in order to strengthen pagan cult and to please the emperor. After his arrival in Cordoba, Dion announced the imperial edicts of mandatory execution throughout the Roman Empire, the content of which was reduced to the obligatory sacrifice to pagan gods and the prohibition of Christianity, and in case of disobedience, a person had to be subjected to torture, and, in case of refusal to sacrifice to idols, was subject to burning. One of the officers of the city court, having learned about the brother and sister who led a pious life according to the Gospel, and knowing about the cruel temper of Dion, decided to inform the ruler of the city about them. When he came to Dion, he said:
I have found two who despise your decrees and the emperor's laws. They have the courage to assert that our gods are just a soulless stone and do not hear the prayers of those who bow to them and offer sacrifices.
After listening to the scammer, the sovereign was filled with anger and ordered the servants to bring to him the detractors of the pagan gods. When the saints were taken to the residence of the ruler and placed before him for interrogation, he looked at them with contempt and asked:
Are you the ones who do not want to make sacrifices to our gods and urge our people not to bow to the sacred images of the gods?
Blessed Atsiscles said:
We serve only the Lord Jesus Christ, and not your dirty idols, which are demons.
The official said:
Have you heard the decree of the emperor, in which all citizens of the empire are obliged to make sacrifices to our gods, and those who do not want to participate in public sacrifices are to be tortured and killed?
Aciscus replied:
We are ready with our death to testify to the truth Christian faith into the Lord Jesus Christ, and receive the reward from the Savior prepared for all who love the True God.
Hearing this answer, Dion was furious. He swung at the martyr, wanting to hit him, but then his eyes fell on meek Victoria, and hypocritically affectionately said to the martyr:
My daughter, I will not hurt you, if you and your brother bow to our gods, I will forgive you, because everyone can make a mistake. Forget the false teachings you heard at home. If you do not do what I ask you, then I will be forced, obeying the decree of the emperor, to betray you to the most cruel and terrible torment.
Saint Victoria, not paying attention to the kind words of her tormentor, answered:
Do us a favor, do what you said. We will find happiness with Christ.
Struck by the answer of Saint Victoria, Dion turned with affectionate words to Saint Atiscles:
You are in your prime and it would be wrong to die at such an early age. If you sacrifice to our gods, you will receive a reward from me, and you, young man, will receive glory and a position at my court.
Saint Aciscles refused:
I prefer not to know anyone except Christ crucified, who created me from the dust of the earth, and you are trying to force people to honor man-made images that have eyes, but do not see anything, because they are soulless.
The name of Christ again infuriated Dion. In anger, he ordered the holy brother and sister to be thrown into the darkest and deepest dungeon. The prison guard, on behalf of the wicked ruler, locked the saints in the darkest dungeon. The saints immediately began to sing and thank Christ for helping with his grace to overcome the insidious proposals of Dion, and prayed to God to strengthen them in moments of torment that they had already begun to endure for the Name of the Lord Jesus. The pagans, wishing to weaken the spirit of the martyrs, did not give the saints food and water for several days. However, the holy brother and sister placed their hope in God and courageously endured earthly hardships despite hunger and thirst, as if their bodies were not made of flesh and blood, but were like incorporeal angels. But God never forgets those who place their hopes in him. Once, in the midst of the darkness of this terrible dungeon, Saints Atsiscles and Victoria saw a bright light descending from above, and four angels who stood next to the saints and offered them heavenly food, which satiated the body and strengthened the spirit. The holy martyrs, seeing the mercy of God, made a prayer: “We thank You, Lord our God, our King of heaven, who sated us and healed our wounds, do not leave us during trials, help us endure all torment with dignity, so that everyone can see that You are true God. Fill us with Thy power, so that we may worthily come to Thy heavenly mansions, where the angels and all Thy saints dwell.”
At this time, Dion was thinking about how to turn away the holy brother and sister from the true faith, and if this was not possible, how to torture Asiscles and Victoria, so that the townspeople, looking at their suffering, would be afraid to call themselves Christians. The ruler ordered the holy prisoners to be brought to the central square and said: “I order you to do what our gods command - to sacrifice to them, and in case of disobedience you will be betrayed. the most severe torture and death."
Saint Aciscles answered loudly: “Which gods do you want us to bow down to? What gods order to make a sacrifice - perhaps Apollo and Neptune - two false demons of the unclean? Perhaps Jupiter, who is the chief of all vices, or impious Venus, or Mars the adulterer? Let it not be, and shame on all who imitate the vices of these vile gods! Oh Dion, with whom can you compare the first pillar and foundation of the Church of the blessed of the apostles Peter - perhaps with Apollo, who is the curse of this age? Tell me, Dion, with whom will you compare the prophets, confessors, martyrs and abstinents of the True God - perhaps with the murderer Hercules, who lived like a robber and committed monstrous crimes? Tell me, finally, whom do you propose to honor as a sacrifice - Diana, the killer of innocent people, or the One who was a virgin and remains in virginity to this day - the Most Pure Holy Mary, who gave birth to our Savior and Lord Jesus Christ? Shame on you Dion! Shame on all those who worship not the True God, but despised deaf and dumb idols!”
Hearing these words, the ruler did not find anything to object to, but in anger ordered the saints to be tied up and beaten with sticks by St. Aciscles, and St. Victoria appointed punishment in the form of many blows to the soles of his feet. Watching the torments of the saints, the tyrant decided to execute the saints with particular cruelty. After Dion enjoyed the torment of the saints, he ordered the martyrs to be sent back to prison, so that they would await their death in wounds and suffering.
The next morning, Dion ordered a huge fire to be prepared, and ordered the holy brother and sister to be dragged from prison. The ruler hoped to see fear in the eyes of the martyrs, but, not finding it, he ordered Atsiskla and Victoria to be thrown into the fire. The fire was so strong that the guards did not dare to come close to the flame. Then the saints, raising their eyes to heaven, smiled, crossed themselves, and with a prayer on their lips, trusting in the omnipotence and mercy of the True God, boldly entered the fire. But, O greatness and goodness of the Lord! The executioners saw Saints Atsiskla and Victoria with angels in the fire, and from the flame they heard the wonderful singing of a large choir of voices: “Glory to God on high! On earth, peace in the good will of men!” Dion was shocked, and shouting in anger that the condemned were using witchcraft, he ordered to put fuel on the fire, but the flame could not cause any harm to the saints. Dion ordered the saints to be pulled out of the fire, and found that the fire did not harm either the saints or their clothes at all, as if the saints were not in a terrible flame, but were resting on a bed of rose petals. He peered intently into the fire and, realizing that the saints had put him to shame, lowered his eyes in embarrassment and fear.
Many, looking at Dion, thought that the ruler, having seen this miracle, was delighted, would change his anger and say that he was mistaken by betraying the torment of innocent Christians, or moderate his rage, looking at the miracles performed by the martyrs of Jesus Christ, but they were mistaken . To everyone's surprise, the official, not wanting to lose his stern prestige in the city and pass for a superstitious person, darkened his heart even more with anger at the Lord and His saints. With even greater fury in his voice, he asked the martyrs:
Oh, miserable and unfortunate! Where did you learn such perfect sorcery that even fire could not harm you so that both your hair and your clothes remained unharmed? May our gods testify to all of us that your magic pleases them. Make a sacrifice to them, and maybe we will spare your life.
The saints, full of vigor and the power of the Holy Spirit, answered:
Not we, but our Lord created this miracle. Didn't we tell you, lawless judge, that Jesus Christ is our father, our Lord and Savior, who gives us victory over enemies who blaspheme Him holy name and bowing false gods- only he is our hope and protection.
Hearing such an answer, Dion ordered the soldiers to bring his brother and sister to the banks of the Betis River (now Guadalquivi?r), and, tying large heavy stones to their necks, throw them into the water and drown them. But the Lord, who delivered the martyrs from hunger and healed from wounds in prison, preserved the saints in the fire, and this time preserved Saints Atsiskla and Victoria. The Angel of the Lord supported the martyrs in such a way that, despite the weight tied to their necks, they stood on the surface of the water. It was truly an amazing sight! The saints walked along the waters of the river, their faces shone with heavenly light and, raising their eyes to heaven, they clearly prayed to God: “Lord Jesus Christ, the creator and master of time, who does not leave those who seek You and demand Your help, as He saved Your drowning Apostle Peter, help your servants now, through the miracles you work in these waters, clothe all believers holy name Yours in the garment of immortality, heal and cleanse from the sins of all who trust in You. Because You are the true light and life, and to You be glory, honor and worship forever and ever. At this time, a voice was heard from heaven, addressed to the martyrs: "The Lord heard the prayer of his confessors and will fulfill what you asked."
At that moment, a white cloud descended from the sky and rested over the heads of the saints, and they had a vision that the Lord Jesus Christ Himself appeared and blessed the saints Atsiskla and Victoria, and a host of saints and many angels glorified God. The martyrs, rejoicing in God strengthening them, thanked the Lord: “Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the living God, invisible, perfect, You descended from heaven, accompanied by a host of saints and Your angels to Your unworthy servants, giving us the garment of immortality and the remission of sins, we thank You, the creator of all, we bless, glorify and magnify Your Name equally with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and forever and forever and ever, amen.
With this prayer, the saints went ashore, and themselves approached the soldiers, who threw them into the river so that they would take them to prison. These miracles were watched by many people, many of whom began to glorify Christ for the many graces that he sends to all who love Him.
Dion, having heard about the voluntary return of the saints to prison, ordered to prepare two wheels, tie the saints to them and rotate them over the fire, so that the flame would slowly burn the bodies of the saints. When the saints were placed over the fire, the saints offered up a prayer: “Blessed Lord Jesus Christ, who art in heaven, we thank you that you made us suffer for you. Do not leave us in these temptations, but stretch out Your almighty hand and extinguish this fire, so that the evil Dion could not announce to everyone that he killed us. At that moment, the fire flared up with such force that it killed many idolaters standing nearby, but did not harm the holy martyrs at all, who lay on the wheels of torment as if on a soft bed, since the holy angels guarded their souls and bodies.
Great miracles could not soften the mind and heart of the tyrant. He exclaimed, "Stop being stubborn, we've looked enough at your magic."
Hearing this, Saint Atsiscles said to Dion: “Mad, do you really not see the greatness of the True God the Father with His Only Begotten Son Jesus Christ, our Lord, who delivered us from various torments by the Holy Spirit?” But Dion did not want to listen to the speeches of the saints and ordered the servants to separate the saints. The ruler ordered the executioner to cut off the breasts of Saint Victoria. The martyr, having endured torture, said: “Dion, you have a stone heart, why do you reject the obvious?” And looking up at the sky, she said: “Thank you, Lord Jesus Christ, the king of the ages, for allowing me to suffer for your holy name, accept me in your heavenly abodes, and grant me to enjoy your inexpressible glory!” After that, the tyrant ordered the saints to be returned to prison. The fame of the saints and the miracles happening to them from God quickly spread throughout Cordoba. Various townspeople, including chiefs and noble matrons, began to secretly come to the martyrs in prison. They gave food and medicine to the saints, and when they came to Saint Victoria, they found her in prayers and reflections on the greatness of God. Saint Aciscles incessantly thanked God for the sent down trials and instructed everyone who turned to him for advice or prayerful help. The Christian community of the city, thanks to the testimony of the Holy Martyrs, began to grow. Many noble and rich people received holy baptism, and came to the dungeon to the saints, kissed their feet and listened to instructions about the Divine Mysteries.
After a short time, Dion ordered to bring the holy martyr and said to her: “Victoria, the time has come for you to appear before the gods, and if you make a sacrifice, you will find peace and freedom.” Saint Victoria replied: "Wicked Dion, you will find no more peace in this century or the next." Hearing these words, the ruler ordered that the holy tongue be torn out. Having heard the order, the martyr Victoria raised her hands to heaven and said: “Lord, my God, the creator of all good, do not leave your servant and look down on me from above and be with me until the end of my days.” And there was a voice from heaven: “Immaculate and pure child, heaven is already open for you, everyone will glorify God, seeing your faith, suffering and victory. Come to me, my saints, and receive the crowns prepared for you! Dion, hearing this voice, ordered that his order be carried out immediately. After the torture, Saint Victoria spat in the face of the tyrant, and the wicked Dion immediately became blind. Raging and suffering from his own anger, deprived of light, offended Dion ordered the martyr to be taken to the river and put to death there, which was executed with two shots from a bow. For this reason, the holy martyr Victoria is depicted on icons with two arrows in right hand. At this time, the distraught Dion ordered that Saint Asiscles be brought to the city amphitheater, where the holy martyr was beheaded to the cries of jubilant pagans.
The bodies of the saints were taken for burial by the noble matron of Mintsiana. She buried the body of Saint Aciscles at her country estate, where she set up a temple, and later, in the 13th century, a monastery was founded there. The body of Saint Victoria was buried near the river, not far from the place of her blessed death. This is how the ancient Spanish Breviaries tell us, which is in full agreement with modern studies of the life of the Holy Martyrs Atsiskla and Victoria. The bodies of the saints remained in these places for centuries, abundantly exuding miracles and healings to all who, with faith, turned to the holy martyrs with prayer. The clergy of the city generously donated particles of relics with blessings to different cities and countries. Since 810, most of the relics were transferred for veneration in the city of Toulouse in France to the Benedictine monastery of San Salvador de Breda. The rest of the relics have been in Cordoba since 1575 in the church of San Pedro. Now in Spain the holy martyrs Aciskles and Victoria are revered as intercessors in a thunderstorm.
From 29 to 30 November 2011 for a while holiday service in honor of the holy martyrs Atsiskla and Victoria of Kordubsky, a reliquary of 1879 from France with a particle of the relics of the holy martyr Victoria will be transferred to the Church of All Saints on Sokol for temporary storage and for prayer worship. This shrine is kept in a pious Christian family, which, during the celebrations, agreed to transfer the reliquary to the author of this publication for display in the Church of All Saints on the Falcon in Moscow.
The reliquary is a medallion with a particle of the relics of St. mts. Victoria. On the front surface, protected by glass on a purple fabric, on a gold base, there is a particle of relics and there is an inscription in Latin “S. Victoriae, m. On the reverse side, the reliquary is protected by threads and the bishop's wax seal. The shrine has an accompanying document of the authenticity of the relics and the legality of their separation for placement in a reliquary. The document is written in Latin, certified with a three-dimensional seal and the signature of the bishop, who sealed the shrine in the medallion. The document is dated December 10, 1879.
Deacon Dionisy Kuprichenkov.
Jupiter and Hercules were the pillars of political theology and a clear evidence of the connection between rationality and religiosity, which became characteristic of the system of government of Diocletian's time.
Orthodox encyclopedia. M. 2002. T.IV. p.221
Library “Chalcedon”
___________________
Veneration in the Orthodox Church of saints with the name Victoria
In the modern calendars of the Russian Orthodox Church There are no saints named Victoria. This, however, should not be taken to mean that such saints are completely unknown in the history of the Orthodox Church.
Saints from the "Full Menologion of the East"
In "The Complete Menology of the East" (M., 1875-1876; 2nd ed.: Vladimir, 1901-1902. Vol. 1-2; reprint - 1997) of Archbishop Sergius (Spassky), with the name Victoria, four holy martyrs are mentioned ancient church:
About St. martyrs Victoria of Ephesus, Victoria of Thessalonica (or Roman) And Victoria of Nicomedia nothing is known: no information has been preserved about their life, the time and circumstances of their martyrdom for the faith of Christ. It can be assumed that they suffered during the periods of the most massive and cruel persecution of Christians in the Roman Empire - during the reign of the emperors Decius (249-251) or Diocletian (284-305).
Quite detailed information has come down to us only about St. martyr Victoria of Culuza(† c. 484). She suffered among many other martyrs in the persecution of the Arians in North Africa under the Vandal king Huneric (477-484).
The kingdom of the Vandals in Africa with its capital in Carthage arose in 439. The Vandals were converted to Arianism by the Goths. Having settled in Africa, the vandals began a bloody persecution of the Orthodox - everyone who refused to join their church. The persecution reached its climax under King Gunerikh (477-484). "The Arian bishops Cyril and Valinard convinced the king to start a persecution of Orthodox Christians, which also affected all noble vandals who converted to Orthodoxy. Roman officials who refused to accept Arianism were exiled to work on royal estates, Orthodox soldiers were dismissed from service and exiled to the mines of Sicily and Sardinia.Severe persecution fell upon the clergy and monastics: the Archbishop of Carthage St. Eugene was sent to the fortress, several bishops, priests and many nuns were executed after torture on December 16, 482; more than 5 thousand Orthodox, laymen and priests, including St. Felix of Abarite, expelled into the desert and doomed to death by starvation or to slavery among the barbarians, July 2, 483 in Carthage were tortured 7 monks from Capensa - Liberatius, Boniface and others. from the regions subject to him (North Africa, Sicily and Sardinia) to a "dispute" with the Arians (February 1, 484), after which Orthodox worship and rites were officially banned by royal decree (February 25, 484), and the bishops were exiled to hard labor; among them are Saints Vigilius, Bishop of Tapa, Longinus, Bishop of Pomaria, Vindemial, Bishop of Cape, Archdeacon Octavius. Only in the last months of Gunerikh's life, on his orders, 300 Orthodox laymen were tortured, 2 priests were sawn alive, and 60 had their tongues cut off (but the Lord miraculously preserved their gift of speech). The names of the martyrs are also known from the Carthaginian Martyrology: Dionysius of Vitus with Majorik, and others; Nika (Victoria) Culuzskaya; Victorian of Hadrumet; Bishops Donatian of Bibian, Presidius of Sufetul, Mansuestius of Afuthene, Herman of Peredamia, Fusculius, Laetius of Nepta, Quintian of Sikka-Venereus; Servius Tuburbsky, Dagila; 2 merchant brothers Frumentius; doctor Liverat; Criskentius of Misenta; Verul, Sekundin of Hadrumet, as well as 2 brothers unknown by name from Aqua-Regia, 12 young readers of Carthage and 20 other martyrs of Hadrumet" .
St. Victoria was a young woman from Culuza (or Cucuza). When the persecutors seized Victoria and began torturing her, her husband tried to persuade her to renounce Orthodoxy, if only for the sake of her children. But nothing shook the resolve of St. Victoria in the confession of the true faith. According to legend, in the end, the torturers decided that she was dead. But the martyr remained alive and miraculously received healing from the wounds inflicted on her.
... The death of King Gunerikh (December 8, 484), according to legend, who bit himself in a fit of rage, "was greeted with joy throughout the Christian world (although the persecution of the Orthodox continued under his successors)"; on this day, a cathedral celebration was established for all victims of vandals Orthodox martyrs. In the modern calendars of the Russian Orthodox Church, under December 8/21, there is only a memory mchch. 62 priests and 300 laity, in Africa affected by the Arians in 477. In the calendar published on the website of the Holy Dormition Kiev-Pechersk Lavra, after the African martyrs, Mts. Victoria from Cuza (Couluz).
Saints from ancient Latin martyrologies
In addition to the four saints named in Archbishop Sergius's Complete Menology of the East, several more saints with the name Victoria are known in the history of the ancient Church. They were probably not known in the Orthodox East, but there is indisputable evidence of their veneration in the Orthodox West before 1054.
Martyr Victoria who suffered along with St. mch. Edist, whose maid she was. It happened ok. 60, during the reign of Nero (54-68). St. Edistus, according to legend, was converted to Christianity by St. apostle Peter. known to exist in the seventh century. in Italy, the monastery of St. Edista, where the relics of this saint were kept, as well as the relics of St. Victoria. Their memory was set to be celebrated on October 12th.
Martyrs Anatolia and Victoria of Rome(lat. Anatolia, Victoria) suffered around 250, during the persecution of Decius. About them exists famous legend, according to which Anatolia and Victoria were sisters and came from a noble family. They were intended as wives to noble pagan Romans. But Anatolia decided to refuse marriage; she persuaded Victoria to dedicate her life to the Lord. Anatolia's fiancé Titus Aurelius and Victoria's fiancé Eugene tried to persuade the girls to renounce Christ, and after this failed, they handed them over for execution...
They also talked about the miracle performed by St. Victoria during her lifetime: calling on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, she expelled a dragon that lived in a cave and attacked people and animals.
Martyrs Anatolia and Victoria suffered near the modern village of Sant'Anatolia near the city of Rieti (Italy). The antiquity of their veneration is evidenced by the inclusion of their names in the ancient Latin martyrology; they are mentioned by St. Aldhelm (end of the 7th century). In addition, the martyrs are depicted on one of the famous mosaics in the church of Sant'Apollinare Nuovo in Ravenna (VI century). Memory of St. Anatolia - July 9, St. Victoria - 23 December.
During the persecution of Diocletian, two martyrs named Victoria suffered: in North Africa - St. Victoria of Albitinskaya, in Spain - St. Victoria Kordovskaya.
Martyrdom St. Victoria Albitinsky refers to about 304. She suffered along with the presbyter Saturninus among the 46 martyrs from Albitina (North Africa). Rejecting the persuasion of the judge, St. Victoria boldly confessed the truth of the faith of Christ. Tradition says that St. Victoria was of noble birth; she refused the marriage forced by her parents. (This story is similar to the above story from the life of Sts. Victoria and Anatolia.) Like the Orthodox who suffered in North Africa from the Arians, the Albitine martyrs were revered by the ancient Carthaginian Church. Memory of St. Victoria Albitinsky - February 11.
Time of death St. Victoria of Kordubskaya (Cordovia) sometimes ok. 204, under the emperor Septimius Severus (193-211), however, it is more likely that she suffered during the reign of the emperor Diocletian, that is, in 303-305.
St. Victoria was the sister of St. Acisclus (lat. Acisclus). Natives of Cordoba or its environs, Aciscles and Victoria were Christians and led a righteous life. During the beginning of the persecution of Christians, they were summoned to the official Dion. After much torment, Aciscles was beheaded in the city amphitheater, Victoria shot with a bow.
Sts. Aciskl and Victoria "became the main heavenly patrons city that saw the suffering of many martyrs.
The remains of the martyrs Atsiskla and Victoria were taken out of the city by the noble matron Mintsiana and buried in her estate, where a church was later built.
Aciscle and Victoria in Spain are revered as intercessors in a thunderstorm. Their memory was set to be celebrated on November 17th. Martyrdom of St. Atsisla, like other martyrs of Cordoba, is described by schmch. Eulogius of Cordoba († 859). Veneration of St. Acisla and Victoria spread not only in Spain, but also in the south of France.
We also note that in Western calendars under October 18, names were indicated Martyrs of Nicomedia or Roman Agnia, Lucius and Quiz (or Victoria). Neither the time nor the place (Nicomedia in Asia Minor or the Roman harbor of Porto) of the martyrdom of these saints is known.
Of all the saints who bore the name Victoria, only St. We came across a mention of Victoria of Culuz that she was also called Nika. This seems to be due to the fact that both the name Victoria and the name Nike mean "victory" (in Latin and Greek respectively). However, usually this holy martyr is called Victoria, as indicated in the Complete Menology of the East. Be that as it may, the martyrs named Victoria, mentioned above, should be distinguished from St. Martyr Nike of Corinth, who suffered in the 3rd century (Comm. 23 March and 29 April).
These are brief information about saints named Victoria. At the end of the article, links are provided to those Internet resources where you can find additional information about the lives of these martyrs, their veneration by the Church, etc.
Instead of a conclusion
According to the official website of the Alexandria Diocese of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate dated November 29, 2008, "with the blessing of the ruling Bishop Panteleimon of Alexandria and Svetlovodsky, in the town of Kompanievka, Archpriest Volodymyr Chutora, Dean of the Bobrynetsk deanery, with the rector of the Holy Annunciation Church, Archpriest Yevgeny Gumenyuk and visiting priests consecrated for the Church of the Holy Martyr Victoria under construction domed crosses.
Illustration source:
Martyrs Christina, Anatolia, Victoria, Pavlina.
