Icon of St. Photini the Samaritan Woman - 00STPH02

Feast Day/Commemorated: March 20

The Samaritan Woman's Unwavering Faith and Family

The Holy Martyr Photini, famously known as the Samaritan Woman from her encounter with Christ at Jacob’s Well (John 4:5-42), fearlessly preached the Gospel in Carthage during the exceptionally cruel reign of Emperor Nero (54-68 AD). Her younger son, Iosés, accompanied her in this mission. Meanwhile, her elder son, Victor, a brave Roman soldier, had been appointed military commander of Attalia in Asia Minor. Nero, escalating his persecution of Christians, summoned Victor to Italy, tasking him with the arrest and punishment of believers. This summons brought the faithful family into direct confrontation with the imperial wrath, setting the stage for their extraordinary witness.

Victor's Conversion and the Miracle of Sebastian

Upon Victor's arrival in Italy, Sebastian, an official, attempted to dissuade him from Christianity, offering inducements and suggesting his family practice their faith in secret. Victor, however, boldly declared his desire to become a preacher of Christianity like his mother and brother. Immediately following this declaration, Sebastian was struck with excruciating eye pain, rendering him blind and mute for three days. On the fourth day, he proclaimed, "The God of the Christians is the only true God," stating that Christ was calling him. Victor’s prayers brought about Sebastian's baptism and instant recovery of sight. Witnessing this profound miracle, Sebastian's servants also embraced Christianity and were baptized, leading to reports reaching Nero and the eventual summoning of all Christians to Rome.

Divine Encouragement and Miraculous Endurance

As the confessors faced imminent peril in Rome, the Lord Himself appeared to them, reassuring them, "Fear not, for I am with you. Nero, and all who serve him, shall be vanquished." To Saint Victor, the Lord declared, "From this day forward, your name will be Photinos, because through you, many will be enlightened and will believe in me." The Lord also instructed the Christians to strengthen Saint Sebastian to persevere. These divine revelations, including future events, were also revealed to Saint Photini, prompting her to travel from Carthage to join the confessors in Rome. There, despite having their finger joints broken at Nero's command, the martyrs miraculously felt no pain, and their hands remained unharmed, demonstrating divine protection amidst their torments.

Continued Persecution and Acts of Faith

Nero ordered Saints Sebastian, Photinos, and Iosés to be blinded and imprisoned, while Saint Photini and her five sisters—Anatolí, Photó, Photida, Paraskeví, and Kyriakí—were placed under the supervision of Nero’s daughter, Domnina, at the imperial court. Through her unwavering faith, Saint Photini not only converted Domnina and all her servants to Christ but also a sorcerer who had brought her poisoned food. Three years later, messengers from Nero reported that the blinded Saints Sebastian, Photinos, and Iosés had miraculously regained their sight, and their prison had been transformed into a fragrant place of worship, with people visiting them to hear their preaching. Enraged, Nero ordered them crucified and beaten. On the fourth day, servants sent to check on them were blinded, but an Angel freed the martyrs, and they in turn, out of pity, restored the servants' sight through prayer, leading to more conversions and baptisms.

Ultimate Sacrifice and Enduring Legacy

Driven to a frenzy, Nero inflicted unspeakable tortures: Saint Photini was flayed and thrown into a well; Sebastian, Photinos, and Iosés had their legs amputated, were thrown to dogs, and then flayed. Saint Photini's sisters endured equally horrific torments, including having their breasts cut off and their skin flayed. For Saint Photida, Nero devised the most agonizing execution, tying her feet to two bent trees that, when released, tore her apart. The others were beheaded. Saint Photini, recovered from the well, was imprisoned for twenty days. Brought before Nero again, she defiantly spat in his face, mocking his blindness and profligacy, refusing to renounce Christ for idols. Enraged, Nero ordered her thrown back into the well, where she peacefully surrendered her soul to God around 66 AD. Saint Photini is commemorated on February 26 (Greek usage), and her head is preserved at Grigoriou Monastery on Mount Athos, a testament to her courageous witness, with numerous miracles, especially eye healings, attributed to her intercession.

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