Martyr 4th century

Righteous Virgin Martyr Glaphyra

died c. 322

Also known as Glaphyra of Nicomedia

A maidservant of the imperial household who fled the emperor Licinius's advances to preserve her chastity, taking refuge near Amasea; she is honored as a righteous virgin.

Feast Day

April 26

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Commemorated as

The Holy Righteous Virgin-Martyr Glaphyra

Life

Glaphyra was a maidservant in the household of the empress Constantia, wife of the emperor Licinius, in the early fourth century. When the emperor was overcome with passion for her, she resolved to preserve her chastity and, with the help of her mistress, fled the imperial court. The synaxarion honors her as a righteous virgin whose flight led, indirectly, to the martyrdom of Saint Basil, Bishop of Amasea, with whom she is commemorated on April 26.

According to the tradition preserved in the Orthodox calendar, Glaphyra disguised herself in men's clothing and travelled to Pontus, where she found refuge in Amasea. Her death there spared her from being returned to Licinius, but the discovery of her whereabouts brought about the arrest and execution of the bishop who had sheltered her.

Timeline 3 moments Read Hide

early 4th c. Service in the imperial household Glaphyra served as a maidservant of the empress Constantia, the wife of the emperor Licinius (who reigned in the East 308-324).
c. 322 Flight from Nicomedia to Pontus When Licinius was seized with passion for her, Glaphyra reported the matter to the empress, who helped her escape. Disguised in men's attire and provided with money, she was sent to Pontus.
c. 322 Refuge at Amasea and her repose Glaphyra was sheltered at Amasea by its bishop, Saint Basil. She gave the money she carried toward the building of a church there and wrote to Constantia asking for further funds. The letter was intercepted by Licinius, but Glaphyra died before his order to seize her reached Amasea.

Contributions & Legacy

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A flight to preserve chastity

The account of Glaphyra is bound up with the persecution under Licinius, who in the years before his defeat by Constantine renewed pressure against Christians in Pontus and the surrounding cities. The synaxarion relates that when the emperor conceived a passion for Glaphyra, she confided in the empress Constantia, who arranged her escape rather than expose her to dishonor.

Dressed as a man and given money for the journey, Glaphyra travelled to Pontus and was received at Amasea by Bishop Basil. There she devoted the funds she carried to the construction of a church and sought additional support from the empress by letter. When that letter fell into the emperor's hands, he demanded that both the bishop and the maidservant be sent to him; Glaphyra's death intervened before the order could be carried out.

Commemorated with Saint Basil of Amasea

Saint Basil, Bishop of Amasea, who had given Glaphyra shelter, was taken in bonds to Nicomedia. By tradition he refused the emperor's demands, was tortured, and was beheaded, his body cast into the sea and later recovered and buried in the church he had built. He is commemorated on the same day as Glaphyra, April 26, and the two lives are recounted together in the calendar.

Sources: OCA Synaxarion (oca.org), Lives of the Saints