Eastern Rite ~ Feasts of 10 September AM 7533

Today is the Afterfeast of the Nativity of the Mother of God and the Feast of the Holy Martyrs Menodora, Metrodora, and Nymphadora.

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Troparion — Tone 4

Your Nativity, O Virgin, / has proclaimed joy to the whole universe! / The Sun of Righteousness, Christ our God, / has shone from You, O Theotokos! / By annulling the curse, / He bestowed a blessing. / By destroying death, He has granted us eternal Life.

Kontakion — Tone 4

By Your Nativity, O Most-Pure Virgin, / Joachim and Anna are freed from barrenness; / Adam and Eve, from the corruption of death. / And we, your people, freed from the guilt of sin, celebrate and sing to you: / The barren woman gives birth to the Theotokos, the nourisher of our life!

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The Holy Virgins Menodora, Nymphadora, and Metrodora (305-311), were sisters from Bithynia (Asia Minor). Distinguished for their special piety, they wanted to preserve their virginity and avoid worldly associations. They chose a solitary place for themselves in the wilderness and spent their lives in deeds of fasting and prayer.

Reports of the holy life of the virgins soon spread, since healings of the sick began to occur through their prayers. The Bithynia region was governed at that time by a man named Frontonus, who ordered that the sisters be arrested and brought before him.

At first, he tried to persuade them to renounce Christ, promising great honours and rewards. But the holy sisters steadfastly confessed their faith before him, rejecting all his suggestions. They told him that they did not value the temporal things of this world and that they were prepared to die for their Heavenly Bridegroom, for death would be their gateway to eternal life.

Flying into a rage, the governor took out his wrath on Saint Menodora, the eldest sister. She was stripped of her clothes and beaten by four men, while a herald urged her to offer sacrifice to the gods. The saint bravely endured the torments and cried out, “Sacrifice? Can’t you see that I am offering myself as a sacrifice to my God?” Then they renewed their torments with even greater severity. Then the martyr cried out, “ Lord Jesus Christ, joy of my heart, my hope, receive my soul in peace.” With these words, she gave up her soul to God and went to her Heavenly Bridegroom.

Four days later, they brought the two younger sisters Metrodora and Nymphodora to the court. They showed them the battered body of their older sister to frighten them. The virgins wept over her but remained steadfast.

Then Saint Metrodora was tortured. She died, crying out to her beloved Lord Jesus Christ with her last breath. Then they turned to the third sister, Nymphadora. Before her lay the bruised bodies of her sisters. Frontonus hoped that this sight would intimidate the young virgin.

Pretending that he was charmed by her youth and beauty, he urged her to worship the pagan gods, promising great rewards and honours. Saint Nymphodora scoffed at his words and shared the fate of her older sisters. She was tortured and beaten to death with iron rods.

The bodies of the holy martyrs were to be burned in a fire, but a heavy rain extinguished the blazing fire, and lightning struck down Frontonus and his servant. Christians took up the bodies of the holy sisters and reverently buried them at the so-called Warm Springs at Pythias (Bithynia).

Part of the relics of the holy martyrs are preserved on Mt. Athos in the Protection cathedral of the Saint Panteleimon Russian monastery, and the hand of Saint Metrodora is on the Holy Mountain in the monastery of the Pantocrator.

Troparion — Tone 4

O Holy Martyrs, / you wisely exchanged horrible torture and bitter death for Eternal Life! / Three virgins, you confessed the unoriginate Trinity at an evil council, / and for this reason, were slain by the sword, / following the way of the Lamb who was slain! / Now ever pray for us / Who commemorate your holy memory!

Troparion — Tone 1

Let all who rejoice at their triumph honour these three virgin martyrs, / who are united to God as sisters and who pour forth fair streams of grace: / Menodora, Metrodora, and Nymphadora, / who were in all things courageous; / they ever pray to the Trinity for us.

Kontakion — Tone 4

Invincible in your struggles for the Holy Trinity, / and through your love for each other as sisters, / you defeated the foe of your spiritual life, / and with the five virgins, entered victoriously into the Heavenly Mansions / where you ever rejoice with the angels in the presence of the King of All!