About Me
Marina was born in Antioch, a Roman city of southern Asia Minor, at the end of the third century, being the daughter of notable pagan parents.
Marina was raised by a Christian nanny. As Marina increased in age, more so did she advance in knowledge, understanding, and compassion. Her faith in the Living God was so great that she desired the path of Martyrdom. Her father, who was a pagan priest, hated her for her faith, and would not regard her as his daughter.
The imperial governor,seeing her great beauty, desired her for his wife. Upon learning that she was a Christian he tried to dissuade her by flatteries, and by threats of torture.
Marina frankly replied to the man "Have no vain hope for me, O governor, that I might cower before any number of torments. Nothing will separate me from Christ - neither affliction, famine, fire, sword, nor any other harsh tribulation - not even a violent and very painful death. Think not that you will entice me the honors, gold or other wealth, because all these things are perishable and temporal.
"The soul, by the grace of God, is immortal and desires eternity. For this reason, we, the Christians, wisely disdain these fleeting luxuries and enjoyments. We endure the sorrow and distress of the day that we might attain to everlasting life and eternal rest after our repose. If you think that I lie, here I am, try me, so you will know by deed the truth. Strike me, slay me, burn me, suffocate or test me with ten thousand torments. As much as you will worsen the punishment, so much more will Christ glorify me in the future life and blessedness.
"Many times in this life Christ grants us a small consolation as a pledge of that future exaltation: He draws us out of the depths of the sea, or rescues us from fire, or saves us from other torments, to your shame and condemnation. Therefore, I do not sorrow in this transient life. Readily I give my body to death, for my deathless God and Master, as he, the sinless One, for my love, was crucified."
Then the governor put her to harsh torture so all the beauty of her body was disfigured. Not on the the public sorrowed and wept and suffered due to her troubles but even the beastly tormentor turned away from her countenance which was formerly beautiful and comely. As broken up and destroyed as her body was, more so was her soul renewed and brighter. Unshaken, she prayed with thanksgiving that the Lord count her worthy to be tormented for His love.
The hater of love and malicious demon, beholding that his servant, the chief of that city, could not vanquish one young woman and make her fall down before the demons, wished to test her himself. Taking on a dark and manlike guise, a demon appeared to Marina in the prison. Fearlessly Christ's athlete seized him by the hair and, finding a hammer, beat him to the ground, completely humbling him.
A great light appeared and illuminated the entire prison. All of Marina's wounds were completely healed and not even a trace of scarring remained on her body. The demented governor tortured her the next day by fire and water but Marina endured it all as if not in her own body. She was finally sentenced to death by beheading. She was beheaded at the age of fifteen in the time of Diocletian (284-305) but is numbered with the armies of martyrs, and remains alive in soul and power in heaven and on earth.
Saint Marina Pray to God for us.
More on Saint Marina go here... http://www.stmarina.org/stmarina.htm
