Martyr
Martyr Callista of Caesarea
† ок. 288/300
Martyr Callista of Caesarea — sister of Martyr Christina; having renounced her faith from fear of torture, she was brought to repentance by Great Martyr Dorothea and died a martyr's death, atoning for her apostasy.
Martyr Callista and her sister Christina lived in Caesarea of Cappadocia and suffered for Christ under Emperor Diocletian around 288 or 300 AD. Out of fear of torture, they had once renounced their faith and begun to lead an impious life.
The regional governor Sapricius sent them to persuade the holy martyr Dorothea to sacrifice to pagan idols, but Dorothea instead convinced the sisters to repent and return to Christ. As punishment, they were tied back to back and burned in a vat of tar, dying with prayers of repentance and atoning for their apostasy through martyrdom.
Also martyred with them on the same day was Theophilus, a court official who had mocked Dorothea before her execution but was miraculously converted and himself put to death for Christ.
Their feast is kept on February 6/19.
The entry's image is directly inscribed "Holy Martyrs Christina and Callista," confirming this identification among other saints of this name (e.g., Martyr Callista of Nicomedia, sister of Evodus and Hermogenes, feast September 1/14 — a separate, different group).