The Holy
Great Martyr Zlata of Meglen, known also as Saint Chryse, was born and lived in the Bulgarian
village of Slatino in Meglen. At that time, Bulgaria was
under Turkish rule.
From her youth, Zlata was distinguished by her extraordinary strength of character, steadfast faith in Christ, chastity, and beauty. A local Turk repeatedly attempted to seduce the girl and force her to convert to Islam. But neither persuasion, nor threats, nor monstrous torture, which continued for many months, broke the spirit of this glorious confessor of Christ. Finally in 1795 she was hung from a tree and hacked to death.
On October 13, 1912, the largest uprising by Serbs since the Russo-Turkish War broke out in Skopje, then part of Serbia. The Turks revolted against the city, which by then had been under Ottoman rule for 520 years. As the Turks advanced, a female Saint appeared before the Serbian army, strengthening their spirits, inspiring them, and helping them achieve victory. The Serbs recognized her as the Holy Great Martyr Zlata of Meglen, who had also suffered under the Turks.
The domination of the Ottomans was ended, and in memory of this event (and in gratitude, of course), the Great Martyr Zlata was canonized by the Church. The Orthodox calendar today commemorates this Saint of God on two days: the first is October 13, the day the miracle of 1912 occurred; the second is October 18, the day the Saint died for her faith.
The domination of the Ottomans was ended, and in memory of this event (and in gratitude, of course), the Great Martyr Zlata was canonized by the Church. The Orthodox calendar today commemorates this Saint of God on two days: the first is October 13, the day the miracle of 1912 occurred; the second is October 18, the day the Saint died for her faith.
