Vasilissa, Martyr
Encyclopedia
Vasilissa is venerated as a child martyr by the Christian Church. According to tradition, she was a small child when martyred, suffering in Nicomedia
not long after the death of Anthimus
. According to Russian Orthodox tradition, the torturers covered her whole body with wounds, but she remained faithful to Jesus
Christ
.
She was also tortured with fire and before wild beasts, yet remained unscathed. Her torturer, Alexander, seeing these wonders, repented and became a Christian. Vasilissa went out into a field, fell on her knees and prayed to God, thanking Him for her endurance under torture, and, while thus praying, was killed. She died in 309.
Nicomedia
Nicomedia was an ancient city in what is now Turkey, founded in 712/11 BC as a Megarian colony and was originally known as Astacus . After being destroyed by Lysimachus, it was rebuilt by Nicomedes I of Bithynia in 264 BC under the name of Nicomedia, and has ever since been one of the most...
not long after the death of Anthimus
Anthimus of Nicomedia
Anthimus of Nicomedia , was the bishop of Nicomedia in Bithynia, where he was beheaded during a persecution of Christians, traditionally placed under Diocletian , in which "rivers of blood" flowed....
. According to Russian Orthodox tradition, the torturers covered her whole body with wounds, but she remained faithful to Jesus
Jesus
Jesus of Nazareth , commonly referred to as Jesus Christ or simply as Jesus or Christ, is the central figure of Christianity...
Christ
Christ
Christ is the English term for the Greek meaning "the anointed one". It is a translation of the Hebrew , usually transliterated into English as Messiah or Mashiach...
.
She was also tortured with fire and before wild beasts, yet remained unscathed. Her torturer, Alexander, seeing these wonders, repented and became a Christian. Vasilissa went out into a field, fell on her knees and prayed to God, thanking Him for her endurance under torture, and, while thus praying, was killed. She died in 309.