Matrona of Thessalonica
The Holy Martyr Matrona of Thessalonica
Martyr · d. c. 3rd–4th century
Commemorated 27 March — Martyrdom of the slave-woman of Thessalonica
Matrona was a Christian slave in the household of a Jewish woman of Thessalonica who, secretly keeping the faith of Christ, slipped away to pray in the churches while her mistress went to the synagogue. Discovered and forbidden, she persevered; and when her mistress found her at prayer, Matrona was beaten to death for her confession. She is honoured as a martyr of the early Church and a pattern of the faith of the lowly.
Matrona served as a slave in the house of a wealthy Jewess named Pautila (Pantila), the wife of one of the leading men of Thessalonica. Though bound to the service of an unbelieving household, Matrona had become a Christian, and she found ways to keep the faith: when her mistress went up to the synagogue, Matrona would go instead to the church of the Christians to pray, and return before she was missed.
When at last her mistress learned of it and questioned her, Matrona answered without fear that she worshipped the living God and the Lord Jesus Christ, and could not enter the synagogue. Enraged, Pautila had her beaten and shut up; but Matrona, loosed by the help of God, was found again at her prayers. The mistress, more furious still, subjected her to a cruel scourging and bound her fast, and after some days of this torment Matrona gave up her spirit to God, having kept the faith to the end. Her body was recovered by the Christians and honourably buried; a church was later raised over her relics in Thessalonica, and her memory was kept in that city and throughout the Church.
Not to be confused with the Matrona of Ancyra who is one of the seven virgins martyred with Theodotus of Ancyra (May 18), nor with Matrona of Constantinople (November 9), nor with Matrona of Chios (October 20).
Feast and commemoration
March 27 (church date; Old Calendar civil April 9), within Great Lent.
Hymns
Troparion — Tone 4 (common of a woman-martyr)
Thy lamb, O Jesus, crieth with a loud voice: Thee, O my Bridegroom, do I love, and seeking Thee I pass through many sufferings; I am crucified and buried with Thee in Thy baptism, and I suffer for Thy sake that I may reign with Thee; I die for Thee that I may live in Thee. By her prayers, O merciful One, save our souls.
Original translation from the Greek
Iconography
Matrona is shown as a young woman in simple dress, holding a cross, sometimes with the instruments of her scourging. No pre-1900 icon of her alone has been identified for this collection.