Wednesday 17 July today and accordingly calendar of the Orthodox Church to celebrate Saint Mary the Great Martyr and Saint Alexandra Feodorova the Empress.
The Repatriation of the Holy Relic of St. Lazarus of Galisiot is also honored.
What do we know about Agia Marina?
Saint Marina was a Christian saint and martyr of Asia Minor, who was born and lived at the end of the 3rd century in Antioch, Pisidia, in Asia Minor. She is also known as Saint Margaret of Antioch in the Catholic Church.
Her mother died shortly after her birth. Her father, who was a pagan, placed her in the care of a Christian woman, who taught her Christianity.
At the age of 15 she revealed to her father that she was a Christian. Her father kicked her out. Some time later the rector Olymbrios learned that Agia Marina was a Christian. He ordered her to be arrested, interrogated and subjected to terrible torture to renounce her faith. She refused to do so and the head was dismissed.
The remains of Agia Marina are in Athens, in the temple of Agia Marina, and her hand in Vatopedi Monastery on Mount Athos.
Saint Alexandra Feodorova (Alice of Hesse)
Alexandra Fyodorovna was born on June 6, 1872 as Princess Alice of Hesse-Darmstadt. She was the wife of Nicholas II, the last Tsar of the Russian Empire, and the granddaughter of Victoria of the United Kingdom.
She converted to the Orthodox faith, was given the name Alexandra and, after being murdered along with all of her family following their capture by the Bolsheviks in 1918, was canonized in 2000 as Saint Alexandra, Bearer of the Passion .
Alexandra was the last Tsarina of Russia.
Who do we say “Happy Birthday” to?
Today they celebrate:
- Marina, Marine
- Alice
- Alexandra, Alexia, Alexa, Sandra, Sasha.