Saint Kalliope

June 8th Troparion (Tone 4)
Thy Lamb, O Jesus, doth cry unto thee with a loud voice, saying, My Bridegroom, I long for thee and in struggles seek thee. I am crucified and buried with thee in my Baptism, and for thee I do suffer until I reign with thee. I die for thee that I may live in thee. Then as a sacrifice without blemish receive her who for thy sake was slain. Through the intercessions of St. Kalliope, therefore, since thou art merciful, save our souls.

St. Kalliope (Calliope, Kalliopi) was a beautiful girl who was determined to obey Christ. She was 21 and unmarried which was unusual in that time, especially for one so lovely. Then a pagan suitor became very aggressive and would not accept her refusal. She said that she would not marry him because he was a pagan and she would not marry him even if he converted, as she could not trust the sincerity of such a conversion. He persisted and determined that if he could not have her, no one would. He brought her to trial and paid false witnesses to accuse her of treason and mockery of the pagan religion. He offered to drop the charges if she would accept paganism and marry him, otherwise she would be subject to torture. To this, Calliope boldly confessed her faith in Christ and said that the only mockery going on was the trial itself. She was then publicly flogged. They burned her face with branding irons and poured salt in her open wounds. They offered to spare her life if she disavowed Christ. She remained steadfastly faithful to her heavenly Bridegroom and surrendered her life in the year 250.

This Icon is by the hand of Robert S. Burt. Inscription is in Greek.

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See also St. Calliope

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