St. Charitina of

Amisus Samsun, historically known as Sampsounta ( gr, Σαμψούντα) and Amisos (Ancient Greek: Αμισός), is a city on the north coast of Turkey and is a major Black Sea port. In 2021, Samsun recorded a population of 710,000 people. The cit ...

(also known as Charitina of Rome) was a virgin martyr from Asia Minor, distinguished by strict chastity and piety. Charitina spent her life in fasting, prayer and study. By her example she converted many to Christianity during the reign of Emperor

Diocletian Diocletian (; la, Gaius Aurelius Valerius Diocletianus, grc, Διοκλητιανός, Diokletianós; c. 242/245 – 311/312), nicknamed ''Iovius'', was Roman emperor from 284 until his abdication in 305. He was born Gaius Valerius Diocles ...

and was seized in the city of

Pontus Pontus or Pontos may refer to: * Short Latin name for the Pontus Euxinus, the Greek name for the Black Sea (aka the Euxine sea) * Pontus (mythology), a sea god in Greek mythology * Pontus (region), on the southern coast of the Black Sea, in modern ...

. After torture and death, her body was thrown into the sea in the year 304.

Life

Charitina was born in

around 287. Orphaned young, she was the servant of an eminent Christian man called Claudius the pious, who brought her up as his own daughter."Martyr Charitina of Amisus", Orthodox Church in America
/ref> The young woman was very pretty, sensible, and kind. She imparted her love for Christ to others, and by her example converted many.Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America
/ref> Charitina was meek, humble, obedient and silent. Although not as yet baptized, she was a Christian at heart.Baring-Gould, Sabine Rev., ''The Lives of the Saints'', vol. eleven, p.117, John C. Nimmo, London, 1898
/ref> She studied the law of God and vowed to live in perpetual virginity as a bride of Christ. The Emperor

's governor, Dometius, heard of her and sent soldiers to take her from her foster-father for trial. The judge asked her: "Is it true, little girl, that you are a Christian, and that you delude others by bringing them to this dishonourable faith?" Charitina courageously replied: "It is true that I am a Christian, and a lie that I delude others. I lead those in error to the way of truth, bringing them to my Christ."Odden, Per Einar. "Den hellige Charitina av Amisus (~287-~304)", Den katolske kirke, December 12, 2015
/ref> The judge ordered that her hair be cut off and live coals put on her head, but the maiden was preserved by God's power. They threw her into the sea, but she clambered out saying, "This is my baptism." God delivered her from it. She was bound to a wheel, which began to turn, but an angel of God stopped the wheel and Charitina remained unharmed. Then the judge sent some dissolute youths to rape her. Fearing this dishonour, St Charitina prayed to God to receive her soul before these dissolute men could assault her and so, while she was kneeling in prayer, her soul left her body. St. Charitina died a martyr's death in the year 304. The Martyrologium Romanum states that her martyrdom took place in

Corycus Corycus ( el, Κώρυκος; also transliterated Corycos or Korykos; hy, Կոռիկոս, translit=Koṙikos; tr, Kız Kalesi, lit. "maiden castle") was an ancient city in Cilicia Trachaea, Anatolia, located at the mouth of the valley called ...

in Cilicia Trachaea in Anatolia.

Kontakion of St Charitina

Thou didst arm thy soul with faith and knowledge and put the enemy to open shame.
Thou didst stand before Christ in a robe dyed with thy blood and art now rejoicing with the Angels.
Pray for us, Martyr Charitina.

Iconography

Charitina is represented with an angel extinguishing a funeral pyre.Dunbar, Agnes B. C., ''A Dictionary of Saintly Women'', vol.I, p. 173, George Bell & Sons, London, 1904
/ref>

References

{{reflist 287 births 304 deaths Late Ancient Christian female saints 4th-century Christian martyrs 3rd-century Roman women 4th-century Roman women