On this day, June 23 according to the Julian Calendar (July 6 civil calendar), the Georgian Orthodox Church commemorates the Holy Martyr Agrippina of Rome (+253-260).
The Holy Martyr Agrippina was a Roman by birth. From her childhood she strove toward an evangelical life, fleeing the impurity of the passions and filling her heart with the sweet fragrance of purity and chastity. Out of love for God she refused to marry and consecrated her virginity to Christ.
When the Emperor Valerian (253-259) began his persecution of Christians, the holy virgin appeared before the court and fearlessly confessed her faith. For this the impious condemned her to torture. They beat her with rods until her bones were crushed and her entire body was covered with wounds. An angel of the Lord appeared to the holy martyr and strengthened her. Bound in chains, the servant of God gave up her spirit to the Lord from the tortures she had endured.
Her companions in faith, Bassa, Paula, and Agathonice, secretly took the body of the holy martyr and carried it across the sea to the island of Sicily, where they buried it with honor. A church was later built there in her honor. Countless healings were wrought at her grave, and by the power of her relics the Hagarenes were even turned away from the city in which they rested.
Around the eleventh century the relics of the holy martyr Agrippina were translated to Constantinople.
May the intercessions of the Holy Martyr Agrippina of Rome be with us all.