St Sevastiane of Markianopolis

Orthodox icon of Saint Sevastiane of Markianopolis.

Commemorated October 24th.

St. Sevastiane lived and struggled during the reign of Emperor Domitian (81-96 A.D.) and was baptized by St. Paul. She immediately became one his disciples and began traveling to different places preaching the gospel of Christ. Due to her missionary work as a Christian she was slandered before the Governor Sergius.

When asked to give an account before him, she remained steadfast in her faith for Christ. She boldly confessed her faith and that she received baptism by the Apostle Paul. She also announced that she was prepared to die for her Lord.

They cudgeled her body with lead balls and flung her into prison. While in prison the Apostle Paul appeared to her and said, “Rejoice and sorrow not, for thou wilt go to thine own homeland to confess Christ!”

Seven days later, the governor returned to torturing her. They cast her into a furnace of flames and when she remained unscathed after hours within the furnace, all were amazed and marveled at the power of her God. Upon exiting she uttered a prayer and all hear a dreadful noise from Heaven with thunder and lightning. Hailstone began to fall mightily and pelted the furnace, thus extinguishing the fire. Many were in danger of dying, including the governor, so frightened he departed with his retinue.

After this he found out where she was from and sent her away to her homeland, for the governor of that Herakleia to deal with. An angel appeared to her on her way and said, “Take courage, O daughter, though wilt stand before the governor and I shall be with thee.”

She stood before the governor for a great length of tiem. He sentenced her to be placed upon a wooden pulley block. Her body was rent asunder for over three hours, and her torn flesh yielded a fragrant myrrh. Throughout all of this St. Sevastiane remained silent and prayed. Those around her remarked that is was as if her body was without senses.

After they lowered her, they cast her as prey to wild animals. A great lion approached but when he neared her, by divine command, he took on a human voice. The lion then praised and blessed Christ’s martyr and censured and condemned the lawless and impious. A lioness then drew near and stood to the other side of the martyr. Both lions stood at either side of the saint, as innocent lambs.

The governor was amazed and was at a loss at how to proceed. Thus, he sentenced her to be beheaded outside of the city. But, o the wonder! Instead of blood flowing from the wound, milk gushed forth! (St. Paul was also beheaded and milk flowed from his wound as well) The governor full of fear commaned that her head be placed in a sack with three hundred pounds of lead and cast into the sea.

After this was done an angel tore the sack open and took her head along with the rest of her body to a place called Risetos. The angel then appeared to a senator’s wife named Ammia, who was told where to find the relics. Ammia then took them and annointed them with myrrh and they were then interred to a special place in Risetos, to the glory of God.