Saints Love, Peace and Snow
Celebration date: 16/04
They were all three sisters and spiritual sprouts of the Church of Thessaloniki. The souls of all three virgins were adorned with many Christian gifts. When the persecution of the Christians took place under Maximian, the three sisters took refuge in a high mountain. However, their hiding place was discovered. In the year 304 AD they were arrested and brought before the lord Dulsetios. He tried in every way to make them deny Christ. These, armed with the virtues they had, confessed Christ Crucified. Then Agapi and Chionia died, after being thrown into the fire. Agia Irini, after being locked up in a brothel (but no one dared to disturb her), met a martyr’s end, from the arrow shot by a soldier.
The holy relics that remained from the fire were collected by pious Christians and buried west of the city, a short distance from the walls. A temple was erected there at first, which later became larger.
