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The Holy Great Martyrs George, Demetrius and Mercurius
The Holy Great Martyrs George, Demetrius and Mercurius

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Holy Martyrs Menodora, Metrodora and Nymphodora     9/23/2013

They were sisters according to the flesh, born somewhere in Bithynia in Asia. Having been brought up in Christian spirit, they withdrew from the city into the wilderness, yearning to elevate their mind to God and free from the deceiving world and thus to live this life in purity and chastity, as suits the true brides of Christ. They devoted themselves to hard labour, fast and prayer, until God adorned them with the gift of working miracles. Then the sick began to visit them seeking healing, and they became famous, opposite to their will. Their fame reached the ears of Fronto, the Governor of the region and he brought them to trial. When he sat his eyes on them, he was astonished by the beauty of their faces. For even though they were great ascetics and their bodies were thin, their faces were bright, reflecting their inner peace and grace of God. He flattered them at first and promised them that he would sent them to the Emperor who would marry them to his noblemen, but when he saw that his flatteries and promises had no influence on these brides of the Lord Jesus Christ, he gave an order and first Menodora was tortured, while her sisters were cast into prison. After the severe tortures, the Governor ordered Minodora: "Offer sacrifices to the idols!" At this the Holy Martyr answered:" Do you not see that I do nothing else but present myself as an offering to my Lord?" When Holy Minodora gave her soul up to the Lord, the Governor brought out the other two sisters and took them beside the dead body of Minodora, and showing her he advised them to deny Christ. As they remained unshakeable he had them killed also under brutal tortures. At that moment a thunder struck from the heavens and killed the heartless Fronto and his servants. The Christians honourably buried the bodies of the Holy Martyrs. They had suffered and died between 305 and 311 in the reign of Galerius Maximian and inhabited the Heavenly Kingdom.