05 Works, Today, May 13th is Virgin-martyr Glyceria's day, With Footnotes - #134

Unknown artist

Holy Virgin-martyr Glykeria at Heraclea (141)

Glykeria, the holy martyr of Christ, was in her prime during the years of Emperor Antoninus (138-161), and when Savinos was governor of Trajanopolis in Thrace. Hailing from Trani, a seaport in the province of Bari on the Adriatic Sea, she was the daughter of a high-ranking Roman official. Upon her father's death, she became poor and departed for Trajanopolis.

Peter Paul Rubens, (1577–1640)

The idol of Zeus was destroyed

Miracles of St. Francis Xavier, between 1617 and 1618

Oil on canvas

Height: 5,350 mm (17.55 ft); Width: 3,950 mm (12.95 ft)

Kunsthistorisches Museum,  Vienna, Austria

Sir Peter Paul Rubens (28 June 1577 – 30 May 1640) was a Flemish Baroque painter. A proponent of an extravagant Baroque style that emphasized movement, colour, and sensuality, Rubens is well known for his Counter-Reformation altarpieces, portraits, landscapes, and history paintings of mythological and allegorical subjects.

In addition to running a large studio in Antwerp that produced paintings popular with nobility and art collectors throughout Europe, Rubens was a classically educated humanist scholar and diplomat who was knighted by both Philip IV of Spain and Charles I of England.  More Sir Peter Paul Rubens

Once, as Governor Savinos sacrificed before the idols, the holy Glykeria traced the sign of the honorable Cross upon her forehead. She then went before the governor, proclaiming herself a Christian and handmaiden of Christ. The governor summoned Glykeria to sacrifice to the idols. When she entered the temple of the idols, she prayed unto Christ.

Unknown artist

The pagan bystanders cast stones at Glyceria

Straightway, the idol of Zeus was destroyed when it broke to pieces. Enraged, the pagan bystanders cast stones at Christ's witness. However, none of the stones struck the holy woman. Since she remained unharmed, the pagans seized Glykeria and hanged her by the hairs of her head and then lacerated her body.

For this, and for her continued refusal to deny her faith, she was seized and subjected to many tortures. First, the governor had her sealed in a prison cell with the intention of starving her to death; but an angel appeared to Glykeria and gave her heavenly food. When enough time had passed that the governor was certain that Glykeria had perished, he opened her cell, and all present were astonished to see her alive, healthy and full of joy. At this her jailer, Laodicius, confessed Christ and was beheaded. 

Unknown artist

Glykeria was thrown into a fire

Glykeria was then thrown into a fire, but stood in it unharmed, praising God like the Three Children in Babylon. 

Unknown artist

Glyceria was offered up to wild animals

Finally she was cast to wild beasts, where she gave up her soul to God. A healing myrrh flowed from her relics. More on Virgin-martyr Glykeria

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