Synaxarion of the Holy Martyr Cecilia and Those With Her

St. Cecilia the Virgin Martyr (Feast Day - November 22)

Verses

To Cecilia.

Brought to the bath you were burnt, O Cecilia,
And washed in the bath with blood by the sword.

To Valerian and Tiburtius.

Valerian together with his fellow athlete,
Are slain with the sword being insolent towards delusion.

To Maxmos the Keeper of the Keys.

Maximos the prison keeper is tortured,

Immediately becoming a keeper of the commandments of God.

The above mentioned Martyrs contested in Rome during the reign of Diocletian (284-305). Cecilia was from an illustrious family, and was engaged to Valerian. She drew him towards faith in Christ, and urged him to pass the rest of their lives in virginity. Valerian also drew in his brother according to the flesh Tiburtius to the knowledge of God. Tiburtius arrived at such extreme virtue, that he was made worthy to converse daily with the Angels.

Because they were burying the relics of the Holy Martyrs, they were accused before the eparch of the city. Confessing Christ before him, they were given over to the keeper of the keys of the prison Maximos to be beheaded by him. Because he saw Angels, following the beheading of the Saints, attending their souls, for this reason he also believed in the Lord, and died under torture.

Saint Cecilia was placed in a heavily heated bath, and prevented from going out for three days. Finally she was beheaded in the bath and in this way the blessed one received the crown of martyrdom.

Apolytikion in the Third Tone

By the radiance of thy holy life, thou didst draw the two brothers united in spirit into the Eternal Light. O Cecilia, as fellow-contestants, you were counted worthy of divine glory. Ask that we who praise you may receive the forgiveness of our sins.

Kontakion in the Fourth Tone

Let the multitude of the faithful praise Cecilia, who was wedded to Christ and adorned in heart with virtue. For she put to shame the audacity of Almacius, and shone forth as the sun on those who sought her. Then to those on earth she was a divine support and she strengthened the faithful.