Commemoration of the Virgins St. Tekegh, St Varvara and St. Peghigea

Virgin St. Tekegh (Thecla) (first century AD) was born in Ikonia. She has been called “equal to the apostles’ for converting many people to Christianity. Listening to the sermon of St. Paul, at the age of 18 Tekegh is converted to Christianity and makes up a decision not to marry and to devote her life to the preaching the Word of Christ. Tekegh’s mother, being annoyed by her daughter’s decision, beats her and tries to burn the virgin. However, the heavy rain makes the fire impossible. Tekegh lives for Antioch, where again upon her relatives’ demand, she is thrown to the beasts, but the beasts do not hurt the virgin. Finally, she is isolated in a monastery near the town Selevkia, in Cilicia, and devotes herself to the preaching of the Holy Bible, to healing and taking care of the sick. She dies at the age of 90.

Virgin St. Varvara (Barbara) has been martyred during the reign of the King Maximianos, in the town Iliopolis, in Phoenice, in about 306 AD.  She listens to the preaching of the Christians living in her town and is baptized. Varvara orders to prepare one of the windows of their new house under construction in the form of cross. For that order her heathen father subjects her to torments. However, even after house arrest for a long time she does not renounce her faith and is beheaded by her father upon the court’s resolution. Soon after Varvara’s martyrdom the cruel judge and the virgin’s father die as the result of lightning.

St. Peghigea (Pelagia) of Tarson was born in a rich noble family. She has lived during the period of reign of the King Diokletianos and was martyred in 290 AD. She is baptized and, selling her expensive cloths, distributes the money to the poor and the needy. She refuses to marry the adopted son of the King Diokletianos. For being Christian she is subjected to torments and for remaining loyal to her faith she is burnt.