Saint Glyceria
Saint Glyceria (died c. 141 AD in Trajanopolis, Thrace, modern Bulgaria/Turkey border) was a Roman virgin martyr who was executed during the reign of Emperor Antoninus Pius for publicly destroying a pagan idol in the temple at Trajanopolis. She is one of the early Eastern martyrs whose story survived in both the Greek and Latin Churches. Her feast day is May 13.
Stored in Cargo: Saint Glyceria
| Saint Glyceria | |
|---|---|
| Feast Day | May 13 |
| Profession | Virgin; martyr |
| Rel. Affiliation | Catholic Church; early Christian martyr; venerated in both Catholic and Orthodox traditions |
| Patronage | Virgins; martyrs; those who oppose idolatry; Trajanopolis; Thrace |
| Attributes | Palm (martyr); wild beast (the arena); idol or overturned statue (her act of faith); white dress (virgin) |
| Birthplace | Rome (or Trajanopolis, Thrace), Roman Empire |
| Death Place | Trajanopolis, Thrace (near modern Alexandroupoli, Greece / Turkish border) |
| Cause of Death | Martyrdom; thrown to wild beasts in the arena at Trajanopolis c. 141 AD during the reign of Antoninus Pius; she died when a wild beast wounded her fatally; the account records she made the Sign of the Cross before the animal approached |
| Primary Shrine | Historical cult site at Trajanopolis, Thrace (modern Greece/Turkey border area) — site of her martyrdom; venerated in Greek Orthodox tradition in the region |
| Liturgical Class | Not in universal Roman Calendar; feast May 13; observed in Eastern Catholic and Orthodox Churches; listed in Roman Martyrology |
| Historic Class | Not in universal 1962 calendar; listed in the Roman Martyrology |
Biography
Glyceria is identified in her Passio as the daughter of a Roman administrator named Macarius, and she was a Christian living in Trajanopolis, a city in Thrace (the region of modern northeastern Greece and northwestern Turkey). This places her in the period of the reign of Antoninus Pius (138–161 AD).
According to the account of her martyrdom, she boldly entered the pagan temple during a public festival and knocked over the idol — a provocative act of witness to her Christian faith. She was arrested and brought before the governor Sabinus. She endured several forms of torture with miraculous endurance, confessing her faith throughout.
Finally she was condemned to die by being thrown to wild beasts in the amphitheater. She made the Sign of the Cross in front of the wild beast; it approached and wounded her, and she died of the wound — though accounts differ on the exact sequence. She was buried honorably by local Christians.
Her feast is observed on May 13 in the Roman Martyrology and on May 13 in most Eastern calendars as well.
Significant locations
Legend
Birth location: Rome (or Trajanopolis, Thrace), Roman Empire
Death location: Trajanopolis, Thrace (near modern Alexandroupoli, Greece / Turkish border)
Notable location: The city of her martyrdom; she was arrested here for overturning a pagan idol in the temple and was subjected to torture and ultimately thrown to wild beasts; her cult was established at this site (Trajanopolis, Thrace (near modern Alexandroupoli, Greece))
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Feast day
May 13
Veneration
Saint Glyceria is venerated in the Roman Catholic Church on May 13 and in the Eastern Churches. She is one of the most ancient martyr saints of Thrace.
Prayers
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