Saint Valeria and St. Theodotus

The holy women martyrs Kyriake, Kaleria /Valeria/, and Mary lived in Palestinian Caesarea during the persecution under Diocletian (284-305). Having received instruction in the Christian Faith, they abandoned paganism, settled in a solitary place, and spent their lives in prayer, beseeching the Lord that the persecution against Christians would come to an end and that the Faith of Christ would shine throughout all the world. The governor tried to force them to worship idols, but they bravely confessed their faith in Christ. For this reason, they were tortured and received the crown of martyrdom.

On this date, the church also honors St. Theodotus, who lived in Ankara during the reign of Emperor Diocletian. He secretly professed Christian religious beliefs and secretly collected the bodies of murdered Christians and buried them properly. When the government learned of his actions, threw the saint into prison and cut him down with a sword. The reason for suffering in the name of Christ was the governor of Ankara - Teotekn who was a very cruel and wicked man. He amused himself with bloody spectacles and murders. Every day Christians were put into prison, and even noble ladies were barbarously dragged through the streets or flew to the woods, living, like the beasts. St Theodotus remained in Ancyra, where he employed himself in assisting those who had been imprisoned for the faith, helping those in need, and burying the bodies of the martyrs.

A name day is celebrated by: Valeri, Valeria, Valya, Valeriy