Demiana - Emperor Diocletian Persecutes St. Demiana

Emperor Diocletian Persecutes St. Demiana

When Emperor Diocletian learned that it was Mark's daughter, St. Demiana, who had persuaded her father to deny his idols and return to worshiping Jesus Christ, he ordered one of his commanders, who was a prince, to attack her palace with one hundred soldiers. Diocletian ordered him: “First, try to convince her to worship our idols by offering her riches and glory, but if she refuses then threaten her, torture her, and even behead her and her virgins to make her an example for the other Christians.”

When St. Demiana saw the soldiers approaching her palace, she prayed to God to strengthen their faith unto death. She told her 40 virgin friends: “If you are willing to die for Jesus' sake then you may stay, but if you cannot withstand the torments of the soldiers then hurry and escape now.” The forty virgins cried and replied, “You are the cause that we left the world and came to the monastery, thus we will not leave, we will die with you.”

The prince relayed Diocletian's message to St. Demiana by saying: "I am an envoy sent by Emperor Diocletian. I command you by his orders to worship his gods so that he may grant you whatsoever you wish."

St. Demiana shouted: "Cursed be to the messenger and him who sent him. Are you not ashamed to call stones and wood, gods? They are dwelling places of devils. There is no other God in heaven or on earth besides the one and only true God--the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit--the Creator, who has no beginning and no end; the omnipresent and omniscient God who will throw you in hell for eternal condemnation. As for me, I worship my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, and His Good Father and the Holy Spirit--the Holy Trinity--I profess Him, depend on Him, and in His name I will die and by Him I will live forever.”