Great Martyr Marina of Antioch, commemoration date: July 30, New Age.
She was born in Antioch into the family of a pagan priest. She learned about Christ from her nurse. At this time, Emperor Diocletian ruled, who ordered the brutal persecution of all Christians. Saint Marina received Holy Baptism at the age of 12; as soon as her father found out about this, he immediately renounced her.
One day, Saint Marina was tending sheep. Otrokovitsa was only 15 years old at that time. The ruler of this area, Olimvrius, passed by the pastures and was fascinated by its beauty. Marina openly confessed herself to be a Christian before him, and then Olimvriy ordered her to be raised by a woman of a noble family. He hoped that with age the girl would renounce Christ and become his wife.
But Saint Marina refused to sacrifice to pagan idols. Then they began to subject her to torture and torment: they whipped her with iron rods, drove nails into her body, and then burned her with fire.
By God's mercy, the holy maiden was healed of her wounds, but such a miracle did not enlighten the fanatics. They continued the torment. But the shackles fell from the saint’s hands, and a radiance appeared above her head, where a dove soon appeared. Many who saw this believed in Christ. At the same moment, the martyr Marina was beheaded, and with her 15 thousand believing residents.
Icon of the Holy Martyr Marina of Antioch
Author - Natalya Lyaskovskaya
Among Christian saints there are sometimes those whose simple lives may cause surprise to many: why are these people considered saints at all? For example, in the 4th century the holy monks Marina and Kira lived. What was their feat of faith?
According to the testimony of Blessed Theodoret, Bishop of Cyrrhus, Marinus and Cyrus came from the Syrian city of Beria in Asia Minor, in Syria, east of the ancient capital of the Syrian kingdom of Antioch.
The girls were friends and came from rich and noble families. They could live for their own pleasure, enjoying all earthly blessings, like the modern glamorous offspring from Rublyovka or Zhukovka. But Marina and Kira were not happy with wealth, and the lifestyle that their loved ones and relatives led, mired in the vices of luxury, feasts and debauchery, was terrifying and burdensome.
Often the girls secretly discussed their future. Both did not want to live the life that they saw around them every day. They realized that there is only one way for a person seeking salvation of the soul - to accept the teachings of Christ: it rejects the vanity of earthly pleasures, recognizing only the beautiful treasures of eternal blessings, calls for keeping the purity given to us by God - mental and physical - intact. While Marina and Kira were small and dependent on their parents, they had to humble themselves and endure, but just reaching adulthood, they accepted the Sacrament of Baptism and, having overcome many obstacles and opposition (after all, their parents probably caused scandals and tried to prevent the girls by all means), left the city .
The girls found a secluded place far from the city walls - a small piece of land, and, working day and night, they covered it on all sides with earth, clay and stones. When this kind of gate was ready, they entered there and completed the job from the inside: they blocked the entrance with stones, leaving only a small opening so that compassionate souls could occasionally give them a little bread and water - they ate nothing else.
And so they lived - in the open, protected only by a makeshift wall from the huge and terrible pagan world. They were drenched in downpours and burned by merciless heat, but this did not frighten them. Kira and Marina resignedly endured all the hardships of being a hermit.
Glorifying God in their souls, the saints remained in silence all the time, interrupting it only every fifty days and only for one day.
Through the same hole where they were given bread and water, every fifty-first day they talked with those who came to them about the faith of Christ, about the paths leading to the eternal salvation of the soul. These strange girls attracted the curious, criminals and those who wanted to understand: what is this new teaching about Christ? The curious soon lost interest in them, as did the criminals, seeing that there was nothing to take from them. Those drawn to the light of Christ's truth visited the ascetics more and more often - and one day, carried away by their ardent faith and prayers, two of their former servants joined Marina and Kira in retreat. The righteous women were glad that two more souls would be saved, and they placed these two new ascetics in a separate small house next to their retreat. The former mistresses, and now humble servants of God, began to help their former maids, and now - Christian sisters just like Marina and Kira. They taught the converts how to pray and fast in order to achieve salvation, and guided them on the difficult ascetic path, setting an example of the highest examples of virtue.
According to the testimony of Blessed Theodoret, who knew Saints Marina and Kira well, the ascetics were not content with renouncing the world and its temptations, as well as with feats of silence, fasting and non-covetousness.
They accepted new challenges: they burdened themselves with iron chains, which were so heavy that the weak and thin Kira could not straighten up and was always bent to the ground.
Blessed Theodoret, whom the ascetics only allowed into their home so that he could confess and give them communion, seeing these terrible chains, began to convince the righteous women not to torture themselves, as it seemed to him, beyond measure. They humbly agreed, not wanting to contradict the venerable clergyman, and took off their iron in his presence, but as soon as he left, Marina and Kira again took on a heavy burden - because they had a strong spiritual need for it.
Thus, in the unceasing feat of mortification of the flesh, but in the unceasing life-giving of the spirit, Marina and Kira spent 40 years in their solitude.
Do you think that the holy righteous women have become very weak from the meager food, the heaviness of the glands and constant prayer vigils? After all, they used to, according to a vow, take food only every 40 days for 3 years! But no - they only became stronger year after year. Someone will say: well, why torture yourself like that?! It will be difficult for these people to believe that Saints Marina and Kira did not want to eat; not eating food was not torment for them at all. This is also what some say: I can’t withstand Lent, I’ll be exhausted without eggs, milk, meat and animal fats, and I need to work to feed my family, etc. But anyone who has been in the church for a long time will say that he’s waiting Lent with joy, because it adds strength and harmonizes the spiritual and physical state of a person.
The holy women violated their solitude only twice. For the first time they traveled to Jerusalem to worship the life-giving Sepulcher of the Lord. Returning back, they covered a distance of 20 furlongs without food or drink. The second time they went on a pilgrimage to the temple of Equal-to-the-Apostles Thekla, who was converted to Christianity by the Apostle Paul himself. This holy first martyr died in the city of Seleucia, Kilisian region, where she was buried. Marina and Kira headed there. During this journey, the ascetics also did not take any food until they arrived in Seleucia and worshiped Saint Thekla.
Monastery of Saint Thekla. Maaloula. Syria. The most ancient Christian monastery on earth. It was founded back in the first century by Saint Thekla, Equal to the Apostles, a disciple of the Apostle Paul. According to legend, she was fleeing from her persecutors, and a mountain stood in her way, which was impossible to get around. Then Thekla prayed to God, and the mountain parted before her. This narrow gorge still exists, through which all pilgrims visiting the monastery must pass. Photo: www.biancoloto.com
Having glorified themselves by their ascetic deeds on earth, the Monks Marina and Kira passed on to eternal life, to which they so strove: they both died around the year 450.
There will be people who will say: what did they do that was so special, why did their lives pass, by ordinary standards, without benefit to others? After all, these girls could get married, raise good children, and even (albeit secretly) - in Christian concepts, help loved ones, care for and cherish their elderly parents (after all, no matter how sinful they were, they were their own father and mother!) Or even if they really wanted to preserve their bodily integrity, not to get married, but simply to live in the world for others - to help the poor, the sick, the unfortunate.
Judging this way, we forget that these great ascetics lived at a time when a woman could only express her protest against the pagan foundations of her environment in one and only way - to leave, hide in a secluded place and there lead a lifestyle that the pure souls of Marina and Kira so longed for.
But even this was not so easy to do: they could not be allowed in, locked up, declared mentally ill, imprisoned, forced to do things that the girls considered unacceptable for themselves.
But Marina and Kira were so strong that they overcame everything. Of course, with the help of the Lord, who saw their good aspirations and helped them endure those trials that were within their reason and strength, and which they themselves longed for.
This expressed His mercy and love.
“Try not to do anything beyond your strength, because only God can know that
you can do
it
and He is sending you to do it,” the holy righteous John of Kronstadt advised us.
Marina and Kira not only escaped a corrupt life full of sin and saved their souls, but perhaps through their heroic deeds, prayers, fasting and hardships they prayed away the sins of their loved ones - fathers, mothers, brothers and sisters, and other relatives whom they probably loved , whatever they may be...
This was the life and spiritual feat of the holy wives Marina and Kira.
Venerable Marina of Beria, memorial date: March 13, New Age.
Together with their sister Kira, they lived in the city of Beria, which was located in Asia Minor. The sisters' parents were very rich, but as soon as the virgins reached their 18th birthday, they left their home and chose a secluded place to live; the sisters blocked the entrance to their cell with stones.
They wore heavy chains and bravely endured the lack of food. They ate food only once every 40 days. Soon other virgins began to join them, who also wanted to devote their lives to Christ. They settled everyone who came next to their cell in a separate house, and only the blessed Bishop Theodoret of Cyrus was allowed into their monastery. He very often asked them to make their fate a little easier, to at least remove their chains, but the holy sisters Marina and Kira refused. They spent 40 years this way. In 450, they peacefully departed to the Lord, making a trip to the Holy Land.
Icon of the Holy Venerable Marina of Beria
Source
Venerable Marina of Antioch
On March 13th, Christians celebrate the memory of St. Marina. From the life of the saint of God we know her renunciation of the world, its carnal pleasures and passions for the sake of perfecting the spiritual exploits of prayer, abstinence, meekness and humility. The holy righteous woman lived in the 4th - 5th centuries.
Having felt the Gospel gospel with all her heart, the Monk Marina decided to devote herself to solitude. Together with Saint Cyrus, the righteous woman retired to a cave near the city of Beria, located in Antioch. The saints lived in this dwelling for half a century, practicing contemplation of God, prayer and abstinence. For decades, the ascetics ate only bread and water.
When is Marina's name day?
In the spring, it is customary to commemorate Saint Marina of Macedon and her sister. Having reached adulthood, they left their home and began to lead a reclusive life. Their home became a dugout, and they ate once every forty. The only time they left their home was when they went to Jerusalem to the tomb of Jesus.
In the summer, the Orthodox and Catholic churches honor the memory of Marina (Margarita) of Antioch. The girl lived in Turkish territories, was a priestess in the family, but showed interest in the Christian faith. At the age of 12 she was baptized, after which her loved ones turned away from her. When she was fifteen years old, the Antiochian ruler proposed to her, but due to the difference of religions, she refused him.
Description of the icon of Saint Margaret
Very often this icon can be found under a different name: the icon of Margaret of Antioch. This name appeared only in the Middle Ages, after the division of the church into Orthodoxy and Catholicism. In the West, Marina began to be called Margarita. Her relics and icons are also kept in Catholic churches.
Very often on icons the Great Martyr Marina is depicted with a serpent or devil
This is due to the fact that one day, after another torment, when the girl was in prison, an earthquake began, and a snake crawled out of the ground into the cell. The girl began to pray, asking the Lord for help, then the snake turned into a terrible black dog, which Marina killed, blessed by the mercy of God. Immediately a dove appeared on the window, telling the exhausted girl that she would soon be near the Lord.
They pray to the Orthodox icon of St. Margaret for protection from evil, healing from illnesses and help in childbirth. Prayer gives forgiveness to those who repent, and consolation to those who suffer. They turn to the saint for help in childbirth, protection of children, and preservation of crops. In Russia, particles of the relics of the great martyr are kept in the Holy Trinity Lavra of Sergius, in the Moscow Church of the Resurrection of Christ (Sokolniki) in a casket brought from the Holy Mountain in 1863 by the elder hieromonk Arseny.
Origin of the name Marina
The name Marina has its roots in ancient Rome, where boys were occasionally given the name Marinus. In addition, the name has other meanings of Greek origin.
The meaning of the name Marina
In ancient Rome, boys were given the name Marinus, which means “sea” in Latin. The name also has other meanings, such as “radiant”, “bright”, and translated from Greek - “sea surface”. The owners of this name are distinguished by cheerfulness, the ability to appreciate every little thing and resourcefulness.
Characteristics of the name Marina
In childhood and adolescence, Marina is not distinguished by perseverance, so their studies do not go well at all. Although the Marinas are smart and smart beyond their years, and they have their own opinions on everything. Among my favorite subjects: chemistry, biology, astronomy and physics. Show interest in drawing. However, her favorite pastime is sports.
Adult life for Marin is prudence, life wisdom and experience. Often, with age, women with this name become arrogant and look down on everyone. Clearly defining boundaries both in work and in communication. He tries to rely only on himself. People around her consider Marin to be selfish, because the interests and problems of others are of little interest to them.
One of the characteristics of the name Marina is the independence of its bearer. They rarely resort to outside help; this begins to manifest themselves in childhood. She seeks help only if it promises her a certain benefit. A woman named Marina is interested in many things. They make good doctors, managers, teachers and accountants.
Marina is sociable and interesting, able to support any conversation on a variety of topics. But she is far from talkative; she always keeps her secrets to herself. Marin's appearance is always bright. Women with this name have excellent taste, so they always look amazing. Marina has very romantic natures, which is why she chooses a man for marriage who will never tire of courting her, giving her gifts and paying attention to her.
In family life, Marina is caring and sensitive. Most often, these are good housewives who strive to make the house cozy and comfortable. She has a special relationship with children. She values and respects their opinions and does not try to put pressure on them with her authority. As for her husband, in return for her efforts, attention, respect and love are expected from him.
What does the name Marina mean?
As an infant, Marina is calm. Many parents even begin to idealize her, because she does everything a child of her age should: eats and sleeps. However, everything changes dramatically by the age of three. Even at this age, she is capable of throwing tantrums to get her way.
From a very early age, slightly narcissistic and arrogant traits are observed around girls named Marina. The character is very difficult and sometimes even unbearable. From a young age, she loves for everything to revolve around her, subjugating first her family, and then others. Marina doesn't like it when something happens in the world without her knowledge and permission. However, if she meets a stronger person, she will easily succumb to his fusion. A child with this name should not be scolded or severely punished, as this will not help in this case. If you are too strict with Marina as a child, then she will grow up with a feeling of inferiority and resentment towards the whole world. Therefore, when raising her, you should be very careful and not overdo it.
There is constant inconstancy in Marina's character. If now she is laughing and having fun, then in half an hour no one can guarantee that she will not go into her thoughts and burst into tears. Since Marina is slightly arrogant, she has difficulty surviving failures. When faced with problems, she may retreat and take a long time to come to her senses. Loneliness can lead Marina to the same state. Because of her difficult character, she has practically no friends and has no one to have a heart-to-heart talk with, and she doesn’t like to throw out her emotions in front of strangers. The more lonely Marina feels, the more she withdraws into herself and takes the world with hostility. Marina is very ardent and passionate, which manifests itself already in childhood. Passions constantly revolve around her, conflicts occur and much more. Moreover, this happens even to girls who are not distinguished by their beauty. Her character, manners and some mystery simply captivate the opposite sex, forcing them to follow her.
In terms of her thinking abilities, Marina can surpass all her peers. She is cheerful, but does not have the habit of laughing. She is straightforward by nature and has a habit of saying whatever she thinks to her face. Self-esteem will not allow her to humiliate herself and endure resentment. A person who has betrayed her once will no longer be able to take his place in Marina’s life. She would rather break up with him than endure betrayal. Pragmatic and reasonable, restrained and sometimes mercantile - this is how you can describe her. However, even prudence will not force Marina to stay with an unloved person and someone she no longer trusts. Most often, she marries several times, as she is looking for a man who will fully meet the standard that she imagines for herself.
In family life, Marina will face more than one disappointment, since her life partner must provide her with the proper conditions and, most importantly, live only for her. She will not tolerate any inattention, much less admiration from other women. He can publicly throw a huge scandal just because the spouse gave up his seat to another lady or made a compliment to someone. Because of her character, Marina has difficulty meeting new people, and her relationship with her mother-in-law may not work out at all. The children Marina had are at an intermediate stage. She either plunges headlong into their world: prepares lessons with them, goes on hikes and cinemas, or shuns her maternal responsibilities, leaving the children to deal with their problems themselves. The ideal marriage partners for Marina are Denis, Mikhail, Sergey, Valentin and Vladimir. But it is not recommended to connect your life with Stanislav, Boris or Nikolai, since nothing good will come of it.
Marina has excellent culinary skills, which she is happy to share. She can simply prepare a real feast for the whole world to show her friends her skills. The time of year in which Marina was born also affects her character. • “Winter” Marina has a clear inclination towards the male gender, and is more unbalanced in character. • “Spring” - romantic and mysterious, prone to extravagant and romantic actions. • “Summer” Marina is especially dangerous for children, as she is a real seductress. • “Autumn” Marina is calmer, as she has a passion for exact sciences. Regardless of the time of year of birth, to determine Marina’s character, numerous other parameters should be taken into account: patronymic, date of birth. All these parameters must be taken into account when drawing up a horoscope and clarifying the impact the name has on the child’s fate.
Marina’s health is not very good: both in childhood and in adulthood, she often suffers from pharyngitis. Also, people with this name have a very unstable nervous system. Often many diseases occur precisely because of this disorder. Various diets and fasting are especially dangerous for her, and she resorts to them often. This happens because Marina constantly wants to improve her image and become more beautiful. All this leads to severe complications in the gastrointestinal tract. With age, many diseases go away, but sore throat remains, which can become a real headache for Marina.
After giving birth, Marina may lose many teeth, since calcium is poorly absorbed. Therefore, it is very important to monitor your health.
The character of the birthday boy and the origin of the name
1. Personality. Quiet women.
2. Marina’s character. 90%.
4. Vibration. 93,000 vibrations/s.
5. Main features. Will - sociability - activity - intelligence.
7. Totem plant. Heather.
8. Totem animal. Carp.
10. Type. Don't judge the Marins by their name, even if their totem is carp. These people are capable of completing the most difficult and overwhelming task. As a rule, these are top-class women who evoke sympathy among people around them.
11. Psyche. Rather, they are people of action. Them.
Saints with the name Marina according to the Orthodox calendar 2020 are commemorated 2 times a year
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