Holy Martyr Bassa and Her Sons Theognius, Agapius, and Pistus — August 21 / September 3 (Julian Calendar)

On this day, August 21 according to the Julian Calendar (September 3 civil calendar), the Georgian Orthodox Church commemorates the Holy Martyr Bassa of Edessa and her sons Theognius, Agapius, and Pistus.

The Holy Martyr Bassa was the wife of a pagan priest and lived, together with her sons — Theognius, Agapius, and Pistus — in Edessa of Macedonia. She had been raised in Christian piety and instilled the love of Christ in her sons as well. During the reign of the Emperor Maximian Galerius (305–311), her own husband denounced blessed Bassa and her children to the ruler. Though threatened, these devoted servants of the Savior refused to offer sacrifice to the idols. Then, before their mother’s eyes, the torture of the sons began: the eldest, Theognius, was hung up and torn with iron hooks; the boy Agapius was flayed from head to chest; and last they fell upon the youngest, Pistus. Their mother strengthened them, urging them to endure the torments for Christ without complaint. In the end the young men were beheaded. By one tradition the brothers suffered in Edessa of Macedonia; by another, in Larissa of Thessaly.

Saint Bassa herself was cast into prison and left to starve, but an angel nourished the blessed one with heavenly food. Afterward manifold torments were inflicted upon her. The executioners sought first to burn the lamb of Christ in fire, then to drown her in water, and cast her also to wild beasts to be torn apart; yet, guarded by the grace of the Holy Spirit, the mother remained unharmed. When the lawless ones led her into the temple, she shattered the statue of Zeus to pieces. Then they cast the saint into the sea, but suddenly a boat drew near, and three radiant youths took the handmaid of Christ aboard — Saint Nicodemus of the Holy Mountain believed that these youths were her own sons, who had departed this life before her. After eight days the blessed mother came from the boat to the island of Alone, near Cyzicus. The local ruler demanded that she sacrifice to the idols, and when he met a firm refusal, he had the Lord’s chosen one beaten with rods and then commanded that she be beheaded.

It is known that around the year 450 a church dedicated to the Holy Martyr Bassa already stood in Chalcedon.