Holy Martyrs Adrian and Natalia of Nicomedia — August 26 / September 8 (Julian Calendar)

On this day, August 26 according to the Julian Calendar (September 8 civil calendar), the Georgian Orthodox Church commemorates the Holy Martyrs Adrian and Natalia of Nicomedia. The holy martyrs Adrian and Natalia were married in their youth, only a year before their martyrdom. They lived in Nicomedia of Bithynia during the reign of the emperor Maximian Galerius (305–311). When the God-hating ruler began his persecution of Christians, he promised rewards to anyone who would denounce them and bring them before the tribunal. Denunciations began. On the word of one informer, twenty-three Christians who had taken refuge in a cave near Nicomedia were seized. For refusing to worship the idols they were cruelly tortured and then brought to the praetorium so that their identities might be recorded. Adrian, the head of the praetorium, was astonished by the steadfastness of the confessors and said to the scribes: “Write down my name as well, for I too am a Christian, and I will gladly die for Christ God.”

When the scribes reported this to the emperor, he summoned his trusted official and said: “Have you too lost your mind, that you wish to destroy yourself? Go, strike your name from the list, ask forgiveness of the gods, and offer sacrifice!” Saint Adrian replied: “I have not lost my mind; rather, I have come to my senses.” Then Maximian ordered that the confessor be thrown into prison. When the martyr’s wife Natalia learned that her husband had confessed Christ, she was filled with joy, for she herself was secretly a Christian. She visited Adrian in prison and encouraged him: “Blessed are you, my lord, for you have believed in Christ. You have gained a great treasure. Do not regret anything earthly—beauty, youth, and wealth are all dust and ashes; only faith and good works are pleasing to the Lord.” On the surety of the other prisoners Saint Adrian was released from prison so that he might inform his wife of the day appointed for his execution. Natalia thought that he had been freed at the price of denying the Saviour, but the lamb of Christ assured her that he had not fled from martyrdom and wished only to tell her the day of his end.

Saint Adrian was tortured savagely. Saint Natalia strengthened her husband and begged him to offer his first prayer before God on her behalf. The tyrant ordered that the hands and feet of Adrian and the other condemned men be broken on an anvil. The impious wished to burn their bodies, but a terrible thunderstorm broke out and the fire in the furnace was extinguished; many of the executioners were struck down by lightning. Soon one of the army commanders sought the emperor’s permission to marry the beautiful and wealthy Natalia, but the widow fled to Byzantium, taking with her the holy body of her husband. There Saint Adrian appeared to her in a dream and told her that she would soon depart this life. And indeed, worn down by the sufferings she had endured, the soul of the lamb of Christ was soon received by the Lord: she died beside the body of her husband.