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| Holy Five Maidens of Lesvos (Feast Day - April 5) |
Verses
You were established as champions O maidens of Lesvos,
One, two, three, four, five by the sword.
Although we do not know their names or the year of their martyrdom, we do know they were from Lesvos, and they were martyred there having been beheaded by means of a sword.
The local hagiographic tradition of Lesvos is that they lived in Gabatha near Antissa, and that on Mount Ordymnos there was a monastery dedicated to them which in 1331 flourished with two other monasteries, that of Saint John the Theologian and Saint Theophano. An old chapel dedicated to their memory is in Pterounta.
Apolytikion in Plagal of the First Tone
The five in number maidens and beautiful virgins, who blossomed forth from Lesvos like delightful flowers, and their nous soared with the wings of divine love, confessing Christ, for whom their heads were decapitated, therefore let us strongly praise them with our souls, as glorious Virgin Martyrs.