Holy Martyr Agatha in the Hymnography of the Orthodox Church

By Fr. George Dorbarakis

Saint Agatha was from the city of Panormos (modern-day Palermo) in Sicily, shining from her youth with purity of body and beauty of soul, and she was also wealthy. In the time of Emperor Decius, she was brought before the governor Quintianus. At first she was handed over to an unbelieving, immoral woman, so that she might turn her away from faith in Christ. But because she held firmly to this faith and preferred death by martyrdom, they beat her harshly and cut off her breast, which the all-glorious Apostle Peter restored to health. Then they dragged her over shards and burned her with fire. Finally they threw her into prison, where she surrendered her spirit to God. It is said that at her tomb an angel brought a tablet on which were written the following words: "A venerable mind, self-willed, honor from God, and the redemption of the fatherland."

Saint Theophanes, the hymnographer of Saint Agatha, finds the opportunity in the Canon he composed for her to emphasize once again that our Church is clothed in red by the blood of her holy martyrs. The martyric blood of each Saint is, moreover, an ornament for her, a sign that martyrdom constitutes the glory of the Church. "Let the Church today be adorned with a glorious purple garment, dyed by the pure blood of the Martyr Agatha." And he takes the occasion to remind us of what is self-evident: the Saint gave her life for the sake of her faith in Christ, precisely because she loved Him completely and therefore sought to order her existence according to His holy commandments. "Of all the pleasant and delightful things of life, you chose Christ, Agatha, having been captivated by divine longing."

February: Day 5: Holy Martyr Agatha

February: Day 5:
Holy Martyr Agatha
 
(On Fidelity to Christ)

By Archpriest Grigory Dyachenko

I. The Holy Martyr Agatha, today being glorified, was a native of Sicily, the daughter of noble and rich parents, and was of extraordinary beauty. During the persecution by Decius, the governor of the island, hearing of her beauty and wealth, wanted to persuade her to renounce Christ and to commit to an unlawful marriage; but neither flattery nor tortures helped him in this. "It is easier to soften stone and melt iron than to convince this maiden," said Aphrodisia of Agatha, to whom she was given in order to persuade her to fulfill the governor's desire. "Let it be known to you," answered Saint Agatha to her seducers, "that all my thoughts are founded on stone, and no one can separate me from the love of Christ; but your flattering words are like the wind, your worldly amusements are like rain, and your threats are like rivers. All this rushes towards the temple of my soul, but it cannot shake it, for it stands on the rock, which is Christ, the Son of God.” After cruel tortures, when they led her to prison, she died peacefully in 251.