Saint Pelagia
It is celebrated every year on May 4
Saint Pelagia was born in the city of Tarso in Kilkisia and lived in Rome during the reign of Emperor Diocletian. She grew up in a pagan environment, but at a young age she saw in a vision the Bishop of Rome, who urged her to be baptized. When she woke up and came to her senses, she asked permission from her mother and under the pretense of going to her foster-mother, who lived in another city, she went to the Bishop, who baptized her a Christian.
Her joy was great. After handing over her luxurious clothes to the Bishop to sell them and distribute the money to the poor and weak, she dressed in her baptismal outfit and then went to her foster mother who, seeing her dressed like that, became furious with anger and kicked her out. She then decided to return to her mother, hoping for maternal understanding and affection.
But when her mother also saw this clothing she was upset and falling at her feet, begged her to return to her original faith. Pelagia was disappointed, upset but told her that her decision was final and irreversible. But when Diocletian’s son, who was Pelagia’s fiancé, was informed of the fact, he committed suicide out of grief. When the emperor discovered the cause of his son’s death he called Pelagia and ordered her to sacrifice to the idol. The Saint defiantly refused, telling him that she had met the true God. Enraged, Diocletian ordered that a bronze ox be fired and she be placed inside it, giving her heavenly glory.
