St. Zlata (Chryse) the Great New Martyr - Commemorated on October 13th (icon taken from: http://vatopaidi.files.wordpress.com/2009/10/ceb1ceb3ceafceb1-cf87cf81cf85cf83ceae1.jpg)
"Zlata was born of poor peasant parents (who also had three other daughters) in the village of Slatina, in the province of Meglin. She was a meek and devout girl, wise in the wisdom of Christ and golden, not only in name but also in her God-fearing heart. Once when Zlata went out to get water, some shameless Turks seized her and took her to their home. When one of them urged her to become a Moslem and be his wife, Zlata fearlessly replied: ``I believe in Christ and Him alone do I know as my Bridegroom. I will never deny Him, even though you subject me to a thousand tortures and cut me into pieces.'' When her parents and sisters found her, her parents said to her: ``O daughter, have mercy on yourself and on us, your parents and sisters; deny Christ in words only, so that we can all be happy, for Christ is merciful. He would forgive such a sin, committed due to the necessities of life.'' Her poor parents, sisters and relatives wept bitterly. However, the noble soul of St. Zlata resisted such diabolical snares. She answered them: ``When you counsel me to deny Christ the true God, you are no longer my parents or my sisters. I have the Lord Jesus Christ as my father, the Theotokos as my mother, and the saints as my brothers and sisters.'' The Turks then cast her into prison for three months, flogging her every day until her blood soaked the ground. Finally, they suspended her upside down and lit a fire, to suffocate her with the smoke; but God was with Zlata, and gave her strength in suffering. At last they hanged her from a tree and cut her into small pieces. Thus, this brave virgin gave her soul up to God, and went to dwell in Paradise in the year 1796. Pieces of her relics were taken by Christians to their homes for a blessing." (taken from: http://www.westsrbdio.org/prolog/my.html?day=13&month=October)
See the following link for a fuller account of the Saint's life and martyrdom by St. Nikodemos: http://www.johnsanidopoulos.com/2010/10/saint-chryse-zlata-new-martyr.html.
Another icon of St. Chryse the Great Martyr (Icon courtesy of www.eikonografos.com used with permission)
HYMN OF PRAISE
The Holy Great-martyr Zlata of Meglin
(by St. Nikolai Velimirovich)
The Turks tortured St. Zlata of golden heart,
Tormented her to death for Christ the Living God.
Golden Zlata wept not, nor did she waver,
But surrendered her whole heart to the Lord of Heaven.
The tears of parents and sisters were in vain:
Zlata sought delight through sufferings, true delight-
The delight that Christ prepares for wise virgins,
The joy that the Bridegroom bestows upon faithful brides.
The cage of the body of Zlata the Golden was destroyed,
And her soul was freed from its fragile prison.
Zlata rose up to Paradise, joyful in soul,
Taking her place among the royal, holy angels.
St. Zlata, once a poor peasant girl,
Is now glorified in Paradise as a queen.
Apolytikion in the Fourth Tone
O Lord Jesus, unto Thee Thy lamb doth cry with a great voice: O my Bridegroom, Thee I love; and seeking Thee, I now contest, and with Thy baptism am crucified and buried. I suffer for Thy sake, that I may reign with Thee; for Thy sake I die, that I may live in Thee: accept me offered out of longing to Thee as a spotless sacrifice. Lord, save our souls through her intercessions, since Thou art great in mercy.
Ἀπολυτίκια. Ἦχος γ´. θείας πίστεως.
Σκεῦος χρύσεον, τῆς παρθενίας, καὶ ἀκήρατος, νύμφη Κυρίου, ἐχρημάτισας Χρυσῆ καλλιπάρθενε· τὴν γὰρ ἁγνείαν ἀμέμπτως φυλάττουσα, ὑπὲρ Χριστοῦ, θεοφρόνως ἐνήθλησας. Μάρτυς ἔνδοξε, ἱκέτευε τὸν Νυμφίον σου, δωρήσασθαι ἡμῖν τὸ μέγα ἔλεος.
(taken from the full service of St. Chryse in Greek available here: http://voutsinasilias.blogspot.com/2009/10/13.html)
Apolytikion of St. Chryse in the Third Tone (amateur translations below)
Golden vessel of virginity, and spotless bride of the Lord you became, O most-comely virgin Chryse, you preserved your virginity blameless for Christ, and you struggled in a divine manner. O glorious Martyr, entreat your Bridegroon, to grant unto us the great mercy.
St. Chryse the New Martyr (http://michaelhdj.files.wordpress.com/2012/02/agia2bxrisi.jpg)
Apolytikion of St. Chryse in the Third Tone (amateur translations below)
Golden vessel of virginity, and spotless bride of the Lord you became, O most-comely virgin Chryse, you preserved your virginity blameless for Christ, and you struggled in a divine manner. O glorious Martyr, entreat your Bridegroon, to grant unto us the great mercy.
Kontakion in the Fourth Tone
Made golden by the All-holy Spirit, you kept spotless purity for Christ, and struggled beyond nature, O Virgin Martyr Chryse, worthy to be praised.
Oikos
Simple and chaste in virtue and way of life, immobile in soul, and steadfast in all things, you shone piously. You were seen as a beautiful youth, and a chosen daughter in truth of the King of all, O golden-named virgin. Who could not therefore hymn you, seeing the greatness of your struggles, and the unspeakable love that you had towards the Creator? For after many blows and various trials you were hanged on a tree, and barbarically, your virginal body was violently torn apart, and you were perfectly joined to Christ, O Virgin Martyr Chryse, worthy to be praised.
Oikos
Simple and chaste in virtue and way of life, immobile in soul, and steadfast in all things, you shone piously. You were seen as a beautiful youth, and a chosen daughter in truth of the King of all, O golden-named virgin. Who could not therefore hymn you, seeing the greatness of your struggles, and the unspeakable love that you had towards the Creator? For after many blows and various trials you were hanged on a tree, and barbarically, your virginal body was violently torn apart, and you were perfectly joined to Christ, O Virgin Martyr Chryse, worthy to be praised.
St. Chryse (Zlata) the New Martyr (Source)
Synaxarion
On the 13th of this month (October), the Memory of the Holy glorious, Virgin Martyr Chryse the New, who struggled in the year 1795.
Synaxarion
On the 13th of this month (October), the Memory of the Holy glorious, Virgin Martyr Chryse the New, who struggled in the year 1795.
Verses
In torments, O Chryse, thou wast as brilliant
As gold that hath been purified by fire.
On the thirteenth, Chryse was torn to pieces.
Megalynarion
The virgin martyr of Christ, who was golden*** in body and spirit, the holy Chryse we hymn, crying out: Hail, O bride of the Lord, and glorious Martyr.
***Note: The Saint's name "Chryse" or "Zlata" translates as "Golden".
Through the prayers of our Holy Fathers, Lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy on us and save us! Amen!
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