The memory of the holy martyr Photinia (Svetlana) the Samaritan Woman
March 20/April 2
The holy martyr Photinia (Svetlana) was the very Samaritan woman with whom the Savior conversed at Jacob's well. In the times of Emperor Nero in Rome, in the year 65, who exhibited extreme cruelty in his fight against Christianity, Saint Photinia lived with her children in Carthage, where she fearlessly preached the Gospel. News about the Christian woman and her children reached Nero, and he ordered that the Christians be brought to trial in Rome. Saint Photinia, having been forewarned by the Savior about the forthcoming sufferings, set off from Carthage to Rome with several Christians and joined the confessors. In Rome, the emperor asked them if they truly believed in Christ.
All the confessors firmly refused to renounce the Savior. Then Nero subjected them to the most exquisite tortures, but none of the martyrs renounced Christ. In impotent fury, Nero ordered the skin to be flayed from Saint Photinia and the martyr to be thrown into a well. The emperor ordered the rest to be beheaded. Saint Photinia was then pulled out of the well and imprisoned for twenty days. After which, Nero summoned her to him and asked if she would now submit and offer sacrifices to the idols? Saint Photinia spat in the emperor's face and, laughing, refused. Nero again ordered the martyr to be thrown into the well, where she gave up her spirit to the Lord. Along with her, both her sons, her sisters, and the martyr Domnina suffered for Christ.