Martyr Anysia of Thessalonica

Martyr Anysia lived in the city of Thessalonica during the reign of Emperor Maximian (284–305). After the death of her parents, who raised her in Christian piety, she distributed her property to the poor and led a strict life of vigilance, fasting, and prayer. One day, as the saint was going to church to pray, a pagan soldier stopped her and demanded she come with him to a pagan sun festival. Anysia meekly refused; when the soldier boldly seized her and tried to tear the veil from her head, she pushed him away. In a rage, the soldier ran her through with his sword. Christians buried the martyr's body in Thessalonica near the city gates, and a house of prayer was built over her grave.