Martyr
Martyr Raisa (Iraida) of Alexandria, of Antinoöpolis
III век — †ок. 308
Also known as: Ираида Египетская, Раиса Александрийская
Martyr Raisa (Iraida) of Alexandria — a priest's daughter who chose virginity from age 12; upon seeing a ship carrying Christians in chains, she voluntarily joined them and was beheaded together with them at Antinoöpolis around 308, during the persecution of Maximinus Daza.
Martyr Raisa, also called Iraida, was born in Alexandria to a priest's family. From the age of twelve she chose a life of virginity and asceticism. One day, while drawing water at a well, she saw a ship carrying about 150 Christians in chains — men, women, clergy, and monastics — who had confessed their faith. She voluntarily joined them.
When the ship reached Antinoöpolis (Antinoe) in Egypt, she was tortured first, then beheaded by the sword; the rest of the group was martyred after her.
Her feast is kept on September 23/October 6. Some Russian calendar sources also list March 5 and September 5, but these dates appear to belong to a different, earlier Alexandrian martyr also named Iraida, who died by fire around 202 alongside St. Potamiaena — a case often conflated in general compendia. This entry retains September 23/October 6 as the primary and well-attested date for Martyr Raisa (Iraida) of Antinoöpolis, without importing the dates of the other, distinct saint of the same name.