The Holy Martyress Photina (Svetlana) the Samaritan Woman, her sons Victor named Photinos and Josiah; and the Martyress-Sisters: Anatolia, Photo, Photida, Paraskeva, Kyriakia, Domnina; and the Martyr Sebastian: The holy Martyress Photina was that selfsame Samaritan Woman, with whom the Saviour conversed at Jacob's Well (Jn. 4: 5-42).

During the time of the emperor Nero (54-68), who displayed an excessive cruelty in his struggle against Christianity, Saint Photina lived in Carthage with her younger son Josiah and fearlessly preached the Gospel there. Her older son Victor fought bravely in the Roman army against barbarians, and for his meritorious service was appointed military commander in the city of Attalia (Asia Minor).

The Attalia city governor Sebastian upon meeting Saint Victor said to him: "I quite verily do know, that thou, thy mother and thy brother – art followers of the teachings of Christ. But as a friend I advise thee – submit to the will of the emperor, and thou canst receive the wealth of any Christians, which thou mightest inform on for us. Thou mother and thy brother I shalt write, that they not preach Christ openly. Let them secretly confess their faith". Saint Victor replied: "I myself want to be a preacher of Christianity, just like my mother and brother". To this Sebastian answered: "O Victor, we all do well know what woes await thee, and thine mother and brother, in this". After these words Sebastian suddenly sense a sharp pain in his eyes, and he became dumbfounded and his face sombre.

For three days he lay there blind, and not uttering a word. On the fourth day he loudly declared: "Only the faith of the Christians is true, and there be no other true faith". To Saint Victor, who came there next beside him, Sebastian said: "Christ doth call unto me". Soon he was baptised and immediately regained his sight. The servants of Saint Sebastian, witnessing the miracle, were themselves then baptised on the example of their master.

Reports of the occurrence reached Nero, and he commanded that the Christians be brought to him for trial ar Rome. Then the Lord Himself appeared to the confessors and said: "I shalt be with ye, and Nero wilt be vanquished, and all who serve him". To Saint Victor the Lord announced: "From this day henceforth thy name wilt be Photinos – "Lightning-flash", since that many, enlightened by thee, wilt turn to Me". To Saint Sebastian the Lord spake in encouragement: "Blest be he that endureth to the end". Saint Photina, having been informed by the Saviour concerning the forthcoming sufferings, herself set off in the company of several Christians from Carthage to Rome and joined in with the confessors.

At Rome the emperor gave orders to bring him the saints and he asked them, whether actually and truly they believed in Christ. All the confessors resolutely refused to renounce the Saviour. Then the emperor gave orders to smash the palms of the hands of the holy martyrs. But at the time of the torments the confessors sensed no pain, and the hands of the Martyress Photina remained unharmed. Nero ordered that Saints Sebastian, Photinos and Josiah be blinded and locked up in prison, and Saint Photina with her five sisters – Anatolia, Photo, Photida, Paraskeva and Kyriakia – be sent off to the imperial court under the supervision of Nero's daughter Domnina. But Saint Photina converted to Christ both Domnina and all her servants, who then accepted holy Baptism. She also converted to Christ a sorcerer, who had brought poisoned food to kill her.

Three years had passed, and Nero sent to the prison for one of his servants, who had been locked up. The messengers reported to him, that Saints Sebastian, Photinos and Josiah – who had been blinded, had completely recovered, and that people were constantly visiting them to hear their preaching, and indeed the whole prison had been transformed into a bright and fragrant place wherein God was glorified. Nero then gave orders to crucify the saints and over the course of three days and also to beat them upon their bared bodies with straps. On the fourth day the emperor sent servants to see, whether the martyrs were still alive. But, approaching the place of the tortures, the servants forthwith fell blind. During this time an Angel of the Lord freed the martyrs and healed them. The saints took pity on the blinded servants and by their prayers to the Lord restored them to sight; those healed then came to believe in Christ and were soon baptised.

In an impotent rage Nero gave orders to flay the skin from Saint Photina and to throw the martyress down a well. The Martyrs Sebastian, Photinos and Josiah, had their legs cut off, and were thrown to dogs, and then had their skin flayed off. The sisters of Saint Photina also suffered terrible torments. Nero gave orders to cut off their breasts and then to flay their skin. An expert in cruelty, the emperor readied the fiercest execution for Saint Photida: they tied her by the feet to the tops of two bent-over trees, which when cut loose tore apart the martyress. The emperor ordered the others beheaded. Saint Photina they extracted from the well and locked up in prison for 20 days.

After this Nero had her brought to him and asked, whether she would now give in and offer sacrifice to the idols. Saint Photina spit in the face of the emperor, and laughing at him, said: "O most impious of the blind, thou profligate and stupid man! Wouldst thou reckon me so much deluded, that I should consent to renounce my Lord Christ and instead offer sacrifice to idols as blind as thee?!"

Hearing such words, Nero gave orders to again throw the martyress down the well, where she offered up her spirit to the Lord (+ c. 66).

© 1996-2001 by translator Fr. S. Janos.