Saint Martyr Thomaida was born in Alexandria to pious parents and was married at the age of fifteen. She lived a chaste life, but her father-in-law, tempted by her beauty, began to entice her to sin. Thomaida, preserving her purity, resisted his advances, even threatening him with a sword. In his rage, the father-in-law killed her, and she accepted martyrdom for her chastity.
After the murder, the father-in-law became blind and could not find a way out of the house. Fishermen, who came for his son, discovered the terrible crime. The father-in-law was brought to trial and executed. Many people came to honor the memory of Saint Thomaida, praising her chastity.
Venerable Daniel of Skete, upon learning of Thomaida's sufferings, commanded that her body be transferred to the monastery, where it was buried with honor. The monks, hearing of her martyrdom, recognized her as a mother and honored her as a saint.
One brother, experiencing temptations, came to Venerable Daniel and received advice to pray at the tomb of Saint Thomaida. He did so and was freed from his passions, receiving a blessing from the saint in a dream. Since then, he did not experience temptations and praised God and the holy martyr.
