Saint Martyr Vassa lived during the reign of Emperor Maximian in the city of Edessa. She was a Christian and, being married to the idol priest Valerius, raised three sons in piety. Accused by her husband, she appeared before a pagan court and was imprisoned along with her children. The sons were subjected to cruel tortures, but they endured the sufferings bravely, and all three were beheaded. Vassa, rejoicing in the salvation of her children, was again imprisoned, where she suffered from hunger but received food from an angel.
Later, she was taken to Macedonia, where she was forced to participate in idol sacrifices. Not yielding, she underwent various tortures, including being thrown into water and fire, but remained unharmed. In the temple, she broke the idol of Zeus and was given to wild beasts, yet she remained unharmed and was thrown into the sea. The saint was saved by three angels who placed her in a ship.
After eight days, she appeared on the isle of Hellespont, where she was captured by the governor Philip, who tried to force her into sacrifice. Seeing her steadfastness, he ordered her to be cruelly tortured and, in the end, beheaded. Thus, the holy martyr Vassa surrendered her soul into the hands of Christ God, to whom glory is ascribed now, always, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
