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| St. Markella of Chios (Feast Day - July 22) |
By St. Nikodemos the Hagiorite
On the 22nd of July we commemorate the Holy Venerable Martyr Markella
Though unknown to us all Markella,
Christ saw the way you contested.
It appears that it is not known who this Saint Markella is, or where she was martyred, because no record has been preserved and her story has not been handed down. But the inhabitants of the island of Chios from olden times built a revered church in her name, and they have a great relationship and reverence towards her. Hence there followed many miracles performed in Chios through this Saint on a daily basis.
One miracle among many takes place even today. Where the church of the Saint was built, one can find gravel and rocks near the shore, which appear to be full of coagulated blood. Christians take these bloodied rocks and scrape them, and they put the scrapings in a pot which they keep for the healing of every illness.
From this the Saint has became familiar to everyone as a Venerable One and Martyr. A Martyr from the coagulated blood found on the rocks there. A Venerable One from her appearances, which she does through sleep. To many who flee to her church for the grace of healing, the Saint appears in their sleep wearing the clothing of a nun, and it is thought she comes from the sea and enters the church there.
From the book Synaxaristes for the Twelve Months of the Year. Translated by John Sanidopoulos.