Holy Martyr Agathoclia — September 17 / September 30 (Julian Calendar)

On this day, September 17 according to the Julian Calendar (September 30 civil calendar), the Georgian Orthodox Church commemorates the Holy Martyr Agathoclia.

The years of the life and labors of the holy Martyr Agathoclia are unknown; we know only that she was the servant of a pagan woman who hated Christ. Her mistress hated Agathoclia bitterly for confessing Christ and tormented her cruelly for eight years. Once the enraged woman beat her servant so badly that she injured her spine, and then she cut off the tip of her tongue; yet she could in no way break the saint or persuade her to offer pagan sacrifice. The godless mistress threw her into prison, and every day birds brought Agathoclia food. At last the lawless woman, driven out of her mind by malice, entered the prison and took Agathoclia’s life.