Church of St. Glyceria (Ancient Trajanopolis)

 church, christianity, orthodox christianity

St. Glyceria (greek: Αγία Γλυκερία) was born in Trajanopolis, Thrace, in 2nd century A.D. She was daughter of the consul Macarius and a pious Christian. During the reign of the emperor Antoninus Pius she was arrested by the local eparch Sabinus for her faith. Sabinus called her to sacrifice to the idols, but she refused to do this and with her prayers destroyed the idol of Zeus. The eparch became furious and he ordered to undergo tortures, which the saint endured with patience.
Sabinus once decided to visit the city of Heraclea in Thrace; he also gave orders to bring St. Glyceria with them. The virgin underwent again tortures. A jailer, named Laodicius, seeing the patience and the miracles, which occured during the martyrdom of Glyceria, was converted to Christianity and then he was decapitated for his beliefs. Glyceria was senteced by the eparch to be eaten by wild beasts. She went to her execution with great joy, but the lioness set loose upon the saint meekly crawled up to her and lay at her feet. Finally, the saint prayed to the Lord, imploring that He take her unto Himself. In answer, she heard a Voice from Heaven, summoning her to heavenly bliss. At that moment, another lioness was set loose upon her. It pounced on St. Glyceria and killed her, but did not tear her apart. Bishop Dometius and the Christians of Heraclea reverently buried her.
The veneration of St. Glyceria is ancient; her name appears in the "Martyrologium Hieronymianum" (6th century A.D.) under 8 July. Her tomb in Heraclea became an important pilgrimage site: it is referred in the ancient Passio of the Forty holy virgin martyrs of Heraclea who suffered martyrdom during the reign of Licinius and in the Life of Beatified Elizabeth (5th century A.D). Moreover, the visitations of the two byzantine emperors Maurice (591 A.D.) (according to Theophylact Simocatta) and Heraclius (autumn of 610 A.D.) (according to John of Antioch) prove the great reputation of the pilgrimage site. During the period of Iconoclasm, all the relics of St. Glyceria (except from the skull, which stayed in Heraclea) were transferred to the island of Lemnos, for their safety.
Tradition states that in the pilgrimage site of the martyr occured many miracles; the most characteristic was the myron, which flowed from her remains.

Orthodox Church honors St. Glyceria on May 13.

In the archaeological site of Trajanopolis, there is a church dedicated to her.