Saint Myrope of Chios - Feast Day, Life Story, Martyrdom, and Legacy

ST. MYROPE

Saint Myrope of Chios was a 3rd-century Christian martyr known for her piety, compassion, and bravery. She buried the body of a fellow martyr, Saint Isidore, and confessed her Christian faith, leading to her own martyrdom. She is commemorated on December 2 in the Orthodox Church.

Saint Myrope of Chios, venerated in the Eastern Orthodox Church, lived during the early 3rd century at a time when the Christian community faced severe persecution under Roman rule, particularly under Emperor Decius. Born in Ephesus, she was raised in the Christian faith by her mother following the death of her father. From a young age, she displayed remarkable devotion and compassion, frequently visiting the tomb of the Martyr Hermione (daughter of the Apostle Philip). It was said that myrrh flowed from Hermione’s relics, and Myrope would collect it to anoint the sick, often aiding in miraculous healings. This act, both pious and defiant in a time of Christian suppression, reflected her deep spiritual character.

Fleeing persecution, Myrope and her mother relocated to the island of Chios, where they dedicated their lives to prayer, fasting, and aiding the Christian faithful in secret. On Chios, she encountered the martyrdom of Saint Isidore, a Roman soldier who had converted to Christianity and was executed for his faith by the local governor, Numerian. After his death, Myrope, moved by reverence and love for the martyr, secretly recovered and buried his body, defying the imperial edict against honoring Christian martyrs.

When Isidore's body was discovered missing, the Roman authorities were enraged and threatened to execute the guards responsible for watching over it. In an act of mercy and moral courage, Myrope voluntarily confessed to the burial and proclaimed her Christian faith. She was arrested, publicly beaten, and thrown into prison. While suffering in confinement, she reportedly experienced a divine vision in which Saint Isidore appeared, radiant and surrounded by angels, proclaiming that she would soon join them in paradise. That very night, she passed away in prison. According to tradition, her cell filled with a sweet fragrance upon her death, a sign often associated with the holiness of martyrs.

One of the guards who witnessed these events was so moved by the vision and Myrope’s serene faith that he embraced Christianity and was eventually martyred himself. Saint Myrope’s relics were later moved to Constantinople, where a chapel was erected in her honor. Her legacy continues to be honored, particularly on the island of Chios. The site of Saint Isidore’s martyrdom, associated with both him and Saint Myrope, is revered, and a local tradition holds that the mastic trees nearby weep fragrant tears. Water drawn from a nearby well is also believed to possess healing powers, echoing the miracles attributed to Myrope’s acts of faith.

Though there is no official canonization record due to her early veneration, Saint Myrope is recognized among the pre-congregation saints. She is commemorated annually on December 2, her feast day, and remains a powerful symbol of Christian martyrdom, selfless love, and unwavering conviction in the face of persecution.

Feast Day

2-12-

Birth Date

--

Died Date

--251 AD

Canonised Date

--Pre-congregation

Chios, Greece

O Holy Martyr Myrope, who bore witness to Christ with courage and love, intercede for us in our trials. Inspire in us the same compassion and boldness in faith, and grant us the strength to follow Christ without fear. Amen.
ST. MYROPE

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ST. MYROPE

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