Saint Iphigenia the Virginmartyr of Pontus (16 November)


The Holy and Glorious Virginmartyr Iphigenia was born in Tocate of Pontus in 53 AD to pagan parents. They were all in time baptised by the hand of the Apostle Andrew the First-Called. When Iphigenia was only 15 years old, there was a persecution by the Roman Emperor Nero and the young saint with her family were thrown into prison. Iphigenia was asked to denounce her faith, but she remained steadfast. The governor Marcus then resolved to torture the young saint. They uprooted her fingernails and toenails from which flowed a stream of blood.
They then stripped her naked and cut off her breasts, arms, and legs – a torture so gruesome that the martyr lost her senses and fainted. The governor Marcus was saddened by what he did, however he was obliged to put her to death under Roman law. He approached her body with reverence and asked the saint for forgiveness. The holy one heard these words and opened her eyes and whispered “Lord, Jesus Christ, have mercy on your servant” to which she gave up her pure soul to the Lord.
The governor, amazed by the boldness and serenity of the saint, believed in Christ and confessed him publicly throughout all of Pontus. He then ordered her fragrant holy relics to be enshrined where the faithful could venerate them.