Martyr 2nd century

Martyr Melitine of Marcianopolis

2nd century (martyred c. 160)

Also known as Melitine · Melitina of Marcianopolis

A Christian woman of Marcianopolis in Thrace who destroyed pagan idols and converted others before suffering martyrdom under Antoninus Pius.

Feast Day

September 16

Also Oct 29

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Life

Melitine (also rendered Melitini) was a 2nd-century Christian woman of Marcianopolis in Thrace, remembered as a martyr who preached Christ openly, destroyed pagan idols, and converted many to the faith before being beheaded under the Emperor Antoninus Pius (138-161).

By tradition she possessed a gift of wonderworking through which the idols of Apollo and Herakles were brought down and reduced to dust, a sign that drew numerous pagans to belief. When the local ruler Antiochus set his wife and other women to dissuade her, the wife instead converted and joined her in secretly winning others to Christ.

After her martyrdom her relics were carried by sea by a Macedonian Christian named Akakios, who fell ill and died during the voyage; both were buried on the island of Lemnos.

Timeline 5 moments Read Hide

c. 138-161 Life under Antoninus Pius Melitine lived at Marcianopolis in Thrace during the reign of the Emperor Antoninus Pius, where her preaching converted many pagans to Christ.
c. 160 Destruction of the idols By tradition, through her prayers the idols of Apollo and Herakles fell and were rendered to dust, leading many unbelievers to the faith.
c. 160 Conversion of the ruler's wife The ruler Antiochus charged his wife and other women to persuade Melitine to worship the pagan gods; instead his wife converted, and together they secretly brought many pagans to Christ.
c. 160 Martyrdom When Antiochus discovered his wife's conversion, he ordered both women beheaded. Melitine received the crown of martyrdom.
after her death Translation of her relics The Macedonian Christian Akakios obtained her unburied remains and set out by sea toward his homeland, but fell ill and died during the voyage. The ship halted at Lemnos, where her relics were buried and Akakios was interred nearby.

Contributions & Legacy

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Martyrdom and Conversions

According to the synaxarion, Melitine endured many torments at the order of the ruler Antiochus, who could not persuade her to renounce her faith in Christ. Her steadfastness, together with the reported destruction of the idols of Apollo and Herakles through her prayers, moved many unbelievers to convert.

Antiochus set his wife and other influential women the task of winning Melitine back to the pagan gods through flattery and kindness. The effort reversed: the ruler's wife herself became a Christian, and the two women secretly led many more pagans to the faith. When Antiochus learned of his wife's conversion, he had both women beheaded.

Relics & Shrines

A Christian named Akakios, from Macedonia, obtained Melitine's unburied relics from the governor and placed them in a chest to carry them home by sea. He became ill and died during the voyage. The ship stopped at the island of Lemnos, where her remains were buried and Akakios was interred beside her.

According to John Sanidopoulos, a church dedicated to the saint now stands on Lemnos.

Commemoration

Melitine is commemorated on September 16, her primary feast in both Eastern Orthodox and Western reckoning. In Greek usage she is also remembered on October 29 (per the Great Synaxaristes).

A commemorative verse records: 'Melitini's head was struck off by a sword, spilling her blood for Christ like sweet honey.'

Notes

Oct 29 is her commemoration in Greek usage (Great Synaxaristes). Her relics were carried toward Macedonia by the Christian Acacius and buried on Lemnos, where he too was buried beside her.

Sources: OCA Synaxarion (oca.org), Lives of the Saints