Synaxarion of the Holy Martyr Myrope

On the 2nd of December,  we commemorate the Holy Martyr Myrope.

 

Verses

Truly Myrope was revealed as myrrh for Christ,
Giving up her body to torments for His sake.

This Saint Myrope was born in the city of Ephesus. Because her father died, she was brought up by her mother alone. After she was reborn through Holy Baptism, she remained at the tomb of Saint Hermione (Sept. 4), who was one of the four daughters of Philip the Apostle, the virgins and prophetesses mentioned in the Acts of the Apostles (Acts 21:8). And while staying there, she received the myrrh which flowed wondrously from that tomb and distributed it abundantly to all who came. Hence, because of this circumstance, she was called Myrope.

When Decius reigned in the year 250 and stirred up a persecution against the Christians, her mother, taking Myrope, went to the island of Chios, for she had ancestral inheritance and property there, being originally from Chios. Thus the two lived together in their house, praying privately to God.

One day a royal commander named Numerius arrived in Chios, and thus the blessed Isidore (May 14) was arrested as a Christian. He was from the military unit under the commander’s authority, an elderly, devout, and admirable man. The commander tested him, seeking to separate him from the faith of Christ. And because the athlete of Christ would not be persuaded, he first tortured him with various torments, then cut off his holy head and cast his honorable relic into a ravine to be eaten by beasts and birds. He also stationed guards near the body so that the Christians would not steal it.

Then Saint Myrope, wounded in her soul with divine zeal, went by night with her servants and took the holy relic. After honorably anointing it with myrrh, she buried it in a notable place. When the commander learned of the theft of the relic, he bound the guards with iron chains and ordered them to go about the whole city and search for the holy relic, telling them also this: that if they did not find the stolen relic within the appointed time, he would punish them with death.

Seeing the unfortunate soldiers suffering daily with unbearable hardship — both from the iron and heavy chains they wore, and from the thought of the death sentence they were about to receive — Saint Myrope, beholding and considering this, was pained in her soul and spoke thus secretly to herself: “If these soldiers suffer because of my theft, truly my soul will be defiled by this sin. And woe and alas shall come upon me when I stand before the fearful judgment seat of God.”

Therefore she immediately went to the soldiers and said to them: “O friends, the body which you lost: I took it, when you were sleeping.” Straightway the soldiers seized her and brought her before the commander, saying: “Master, this is the one who stole that ill-fated old man.” The commander said to her: “Are these things they say about you true?” The Saint replied: “Yes, they are true.” “And how did you dare do this, accursed woman?” said the commander. The Martyr answered: “Because I despised your cruelty and counted your ungodliness as something loathsome.”

These words enraged the stern and proud commander. Immediately he ordered that the Saint be mercilessly beaten with thick rods. And when the soldiers had done this, they took the martyr, half-dead, and shut her in prison.

At midnight, while the Saint was praying, a great light shone around the whole prison, and a choir of angels came, who were chanting the Trisagion Hymn. And among them stood Saint Isidore, who, looking upon Myrope, said: “Peace be unto you; for your supplication has reached God. And behold, now you are coming with us to receive the crown prepared for you.” And immediately with this word, the Saint gave up her spirit to God. And the whole prison was filled with an indescribable fragrance, so that even the guards were astonished and nearly beside themselves.

These things were recounted by a soldier who had been awake and watching over the Saint, who saw with his eyes and heard with his ears everything. Coming then to the faith of Christ, he was baptized, and after confessing Christ, he too received the crown of martyrdom. And the body of Saint Myrope, the Christians, having obtained permission from the commander, buried it in an honorable place.

Apolytikion 
Tone 1. Tis Erimou Politis.
O noble martyr Myrope, incorrupt Bride of Christ, now standing before Him as fair and all-beautiful, bearing as radiant and transparent gems the marks upon your flesh, and clothed as a queen in the porphyry of your blood; glorious one, entreat Him on our behalf, we who with longing extol you with hymns of victory and odes in honor of your divine contest.

Kontakion
Tone 3. I Parthenos Simeron.
Bearing your name in truth, O Champion Myrope, you pour forth abundant myrrh of graces, with your miracles, and you distribute them to all who are in need and who seek them, who come with faith and reverence to your all-revered reliquary, which, O Martyr, holds your sacred dust.

Oikos
Having been espoused to Christ through purity of life and through the brightness of your contest, O all-fair virgin Myrope, worthy of admiration, you pour forth the graces of miracles, bearing your name in truth like myrrh, and you distribute them to all who, in faith and longing, approach your all-honored reliquary; for the grace of the Holy Spirit remains unfailing in it, since it holds within your sacred dust.