Originally published at crisis magazine
[Editor’s Note: This is the thirtieth in a multi-part series on the unsung heroes of Christendom.]
Whenever the Roman Canon of the Mass is celebrated, there is also a celebration of the saints, dozens of whom are invoked by the priest at the altar. Among these saints are seven women: Felicity, Perpetua, Agatha, Lucy, Cecilia, Agnes, and Anastasia. These holy women were martyred during the third and fourth centuries and are justly celebrated by the Church during the holy sacrifice of the Mass.
Since, however, their names are invoked whenever the Roman Canon is celebrated, they can hardly be considered unsung heroines of Christendom. On the contrary, their praises are sung constantly, in every generation, on every continent, in every century, on every altar. Deo gratias! Since this is so, we will focus instead on other holy women of the early centuries of the Church who are not as well known.
Sts. Callinica and Basilissa were wealthy married women, living in Asia Minor, who took food to their imprisoned fellow Christians. They were arrested in the year of Our Lord 252 and suffered martyrdom for their refusal to offer sacrifices to the pagan gods.
Orthodox. Faithful. Free.
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