THE HOLY MARTYR LEONIDES AND WITH HIM THE FEMALE MARTYRS

April 16

From the Prologue

They were thrown into the sea but the sea received them not. They walked upon the sea as upon dry land and sang to God: "One field of battle, I ran O Lord, and the army pursued me; O Lord I did not deny You; O Lord, save my soul!" Seeing them the heathens, at first, were amazed but after that tied stones around their necks and again threw them into the depths of the sea and they drowned. They all suffered honorably for Christ the King and Lord in the year 281 A.D.

HYMN OF PRAISE

THE HOLY FEMALE MARTYRS AGAPIA, CHIONA AND IRENE

Chaste souls, chaste bodies,

As three lilies, pure and white,

Three sisters, heroines,

The golden chests of the Holy Spirit,

Blood, they spilled; their life they gave,

Crowned with wreaths.

Agapia, love pure,

Chiona, glistens as the snow,

And Irene, the name of peace.

In torments as in the midst of a feast

Glorified the Living God

And the resurrected Lord:

Most High God, whatever we have

Behold, to You, we give all:

Body, soul and all pains -

All You receive into Your hands!

From the molten fire, save the body,

From eternal wrath, save the soul!

O, thanks be to You, that You created us,

And even made us worthy of sufferings!

Three sisters, three virgins,

Martyrs, for the sake of the Trinity.