05 works, Today, September 10th, is Menodora, Metrodora, and Nymphodora's day, their story illustrated #252

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Menodora, Nymphodora, and Metrodora

Icon

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The Holy Virgins Menodora, Nymphodora, and Metrodora (305-311), were sisters from Bithynia, present day Turkey. Distinguished for their special piety, they wanted to preserve their virginity and avoid worldly associations. They left their country of origin in Bithynia, an ancient region, kingdom and Roman province in the northwest of Asia Minor, and  established themselves in a deserted place near the city of Pythias, Delphi, near a spring.

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Saints Martyrs Menodora, Metrodora and Ninfodora
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They chose a solitary place for themselves in the wilderness and spent their lives in deeds of fasting and prayer.

Reports of the holy life of the virgins soon spread, since healings of the sick began to occur through their prayers. The Bithynia region was governed at that time by a man named Frontonus, who ordered that the sisters be arrested and brought before him.

At first he tried to persuade them to renounce Christ, promising great honors and rewards. But the holy sisters steadfastly confessed their faith before him, rejecting all his suggestions. They told him that they did not value the temporal things of this world, and that they were prepared to die for their Heavenly Bridegroom, for death would be their gateway to eternal life.

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She was stripped of her clothes and beaten

Story of O, by Pauline Réage, c. 1954

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Flying into a rage, the governor took out his wrath on Saint Menodora, the eldest sister. She was stripped of her clothes and beaten by four men, while a herald urged her to offer sacrifice to the gods. The saint bravely endured the torments and cried out, “Sacrifice? Can’t you see that I am offering myself as a sacrifice to my God?” Then they renewed their torments with even greater severity. Then the martyr cried out, “ Lord Jesus Christ, joy of my heart, my hope, receive my soul in peace.” With these words she gave up her soul to God, and went to her Heavenly Bridegroom.

Kate Gardiner Hastings, (BRITISH, 1837-1925)

The virgins wept over her

Detail; By the Waters of Babylon They Sat Down and Wept, c. 1853

Oil on canvas

54 x 77¾ in. (137.2 x 197.5 cm.)

Private collection

Kate Gardiner Hastings, born in London in 1837 as Katherine Carr,  received her artistic education at the Slade School in London. From 1871 - 1876 she studied with John Poynter and upon the completion of her studies, in 1877, she married Alfred Gardiner Hastings. For the next several years, she exhibited regularly, showing her work at the Dudley Gallery and the Walker Gallery.

In 1883, Kate Hastings exhibited By the Waters of Babylon they sat down and Wept at the Grosvenor Gallery in London. Obviously influenced by the work of Edwin Long and other British Orientalist artists, Hastings chose a Biblical theme for this large work. More on Kate Gardiner Hastings

Four days later, they brought the two younger sisters Metrodora and Nymphodora to the court. They showed them the battered body of their older sister to frighten them. The virgins wept over her, but remained steadfast.

Then Saint Metrodora was tortured. She died, crying out to her beloved Lord Jesus Christ with her last breath. Then they turned to the third sister, Nymphodora. Before her lay the bruised bodies of her sisters. Frontonus hoped that this sight would intimidate the young virgin.

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Minodora, Metrodora, Nymphodora, Constantinople, c.  985

Miniature Minology of Vasily II. Vatican Library. Rome.

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Pretending that he was charmed by her youth and beauty, he urged her to worship the pagan gods, promising great rewards and honors. Saint Nymphodora scoffed at his words, and shared the fate of her older sisters. She was tortured and beaten to death with iron rods.

In some hagiographies, after the martyrdom the governor Pediment and his servants are killed by lightning , while the bodies of the three saints are buried by other Christians at the source.

Part of the relics of the holy martyrs are preserved on Mt. Athos in the Protection cathedral of the Saint Panteleimon Russian monastery, and the hand of Saint Metrodora is on the Holy Mountain in the monastery of the Pantocrator. More on Martyrs Menodora, Metrodora, and Nymphodora

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