Today we celebrate the Virginmartyr Lucy of Syracuse. Saint Lucy lived in Syracuse of Sicliy during the reign and persecution of Emperor Diocletian. She is one of the very few female saints who are mentioned in the canon of Saint Gregory the Great as well as Bede’s history. She was born to wealthy parents, her father a Roman and her mother a Greek. Lucy’s mother suffered from dysentery for four years and it was under the young girl’s suggestion that she and her mother pray to Saint Agatha who is considered a wonderworker. During the liturgy, the gospel of the woman with the issue of blood was read and this convinced Lucy’s mother to travel to Catania to pray at Saint Agatha’s tomb. While praying, Saint Agatha appeared to Lucy in a vision, foretelling her of her great glory in Syracuse, just as she was the glory of Catania. At this very moment, Lucy’s mother was healed. From this event, Lucy consecrated her virginity to God and distributed her inheritance to the poor. Having been approached by a pagan seeking her hand in marriage, she politely refused his proposal and he denounced her as a Christian to the prefect of the city and she was immediately arrested. The prefect condemned her to be defiled in a brothel, but she was miraculously preserved as they were not able to move her from the spot in which she was standing. The pagans then went to burn her in a pyre but the flames did not harm her. Finally, she was condemned to have a sword thrust at her throat, and thus she gave up her soul at 21 years of age. Saint Lucy’s name is derived from the Latin word for light, and thus she is called upon for healing any form of eye diseases. May she intercede for us always + #saint #lucy #lucia #saintlucy #stlucy #santalucia #light #martyr #virginmartyr #rome #roman #italy #sicily #syracuse #agatha #saintagatha #diocletian #emperor #romanemperor #bede #gregorythegreat #saints #orthodox #saintoftheday (at Syracuse, Italy) https://www.instagram.com/p/CmFGTLMvGI-/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=
