Skip to Navigation

St. Domna of Nicomedia

clip_image002

Commemorated on September 3

Saint Domna was one of those who suffered with the Hieromartyr Anthimus of Nicomedia during the persecution against Christians under the Emperors Diocletian (284-305) and Maximian (305-311). The persecution became particularly intense after a fire at the imperial court at Nicomedia. The pagans accused the Christians of setting the fire and reacted against them with terrible ferocity.

In Nicomedia alone, on the day of the Nativity of Christ, as many as 20,000 Christians were burned inside a church. However, this monstrous inhumanity did not frighten the Christians, who firmly confessed their faith and endured martyrdom for Christ.

The Holy Virgin Martyr Domna, a former pagan priestess, perished at the hands of the pagans, as did St. Euthymius, when they expressed their concerns that the bodies of the holy martyrs should be buried.

By permission of the Orthodox Church in America (www.oca.org)