Seven Virgin Martyrs of Ancyra

The Seven Virgin Martyrs of Ancyra, drowned in a lake for their faith and honored with Saint Theodotos.

Tekousa, Alexandra, Claudia, Phaine, Euphrasia, Matrona and Julia were elderly Christian virgins of Ancyra in Galatia. In the persecution of Diocletian they were paraded through the city and drowned in a lake with stones about their necks.

Saint Theodotos recovered their bodies for burial and was martyred for it; they are honored together on May 18.

Feast day

On the New Calendar, Seven Virgin Martyrs of Ancyra is commemorated on May 18. Churches on the Old (Julian) Calendar keep the feast on May 31 of the civil calendar.

Who celebrates a name day

People with these names keep their name day on this feast:

Tekousa, Faini, Phaine, Julia, Ioulia, Iulia, Julie, Giulia

Also commemorated on May 18

• 

  Theodotus of Ancyra

  Martyr, Θεόδοτος

  Holy Martyr Theodotus of Ancyra and the Seven Virgins.

  Name days: Theodotos, Theodotus

• Martyrs of Lampsacus: Peter, Dionysios, Andrew, Paul and Christina

  Martyr, Πέτρος, Διονύσιος, Ανδρέας, Παύλος και Χριστίνα

  Holy Martyrs Peter, Dionysios, Andrew, Paul and Christina, who suffered at Lampsacus under Decius.

• Stephen of Constantinople

  Hierarch, Στέφανος Κωνσταντινουπόλεως

  Saint Stephen, Patriarch of Constantinople, brother of the Emperor Leo the Wise.

• Theodore, Pope of Rome

  Hierarch, Θεόδωρος Πάπας Ρώμης

  Saint Theodore, Pope of Rome, defender of Orthodoxy against Monothelitism.

• Potamon of Heraclea

  Hierarch, Ποταμών Ηρακλείας

  Hieromartyr Potamon, Bishop of Heraclea in Egypt, confessor and father of Nicaea.

  Name days: Potamon

• David and Tarichan of Georgia

  Martyr, Δαβίδ και Ταριχάνης

  Holy Child Martyrs David and Tarichan of Georgia, killed by their apostate uncle.