Martyr3rd century

Martyr Domnina of Anazarbus

died 286

Also known as Domnina of Cilicia

A Christian woman of Cilicia who confessed Christ and endured beatings, burning, and imprisonment, dying in prison in 286.

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Commemorated as

The Holy Martyr Domnina of Anazarbus

Life

Domnina of Anazarbus was a Christian woman of Cilicia, in Asia Minor, who was martyred during the Roman persecutions of the third century. The sources place her death in the year 286, during the reign of the emperor Diocletian (284-305).

Brought before the Roman governor at Anazarbus, she openly confessed her Christian faith and was subjected to prolonged torture. After being beaten and burned, she was cast into prison, where she died of her sufferings.

She is commemorated on October 12, and is venerated as a martyr in both the Eastern Orthodox and Roman Catholic traditions. Her name appears in Greek as Domnina (Δομνίνα).

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TroparionTone 4

Your lamb Domnina calls out to You, O Jesus, in a loud voice:
“I love You, my Bridegroom, and in seeking You I endure suffering.
In Baptism I was crucified so that I might reign in You,
and I died so that I might live with You.
Accept me as a pure sacrifice,
for I have offered myself in love.”
Through her prayers, save our souls, since You are merciful.

Text used with permission of the Orthodox Church in America (oca.org).

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284-305Reign of DiocletianDomnina lives in Cilicia during the persecutions of the Church under the emperor Diocletian.
286Confession and martyrdomBrought before the governor Lysias at Anazarbus, she confesses Christ, is beaten and burned, and dies in prison.

Contributions & Legacy

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Historical Context

Domnina lived in the region of Cilicia in Asia Minor during a period of intense persecution of Christians under Roman authority. The sources situate her martyrdom in the reign of the emperor Diocletian, whose rule (284-305) coincided with severe measures against the Church.

She was imprisoned at Anazarbus, a city of Cilicia whose site corresponds to modern Anavarza (also identified with Aǧaçlı) in Adana Province, Turkey. She was accordingly counted among the saints of Roman Anatolia.

Martyrdom

Domnina was brought before the Roman governor named in the sources as Lysias (also given as Licius) and confessed Christ. For this confession she was sentenced to torture.

According to the accounts, she was beaten at length and burned with fire by order of the governor. Traditional accounts describe further torments, including being scourged, having her feet burned with heated iron, and the breaking of her bones, before she was thrown into prison.

She endured these sufferings without renouncing her faith and died in prison in the year 286.

Veneration and Sources

Domnina is recognized as a martyr by both the Eastern Orthodox Church and the Roman Catholic Church, with her feast kept on October 12.

Her story is preserved in traditional Orthodox sources, including the illustrated martyrology known as the Menologion of Basil. A scholarly note concerning the Latin tradition observes that the Roman Martyrology appears to have drawn on a corrupt manuscript in which the place-name Lycia was substituted for the governor's name, Lysias.

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