Martyr of Syracuse
Lucia (Lucy) was a Christian girl who got caught up in the fierce and widespread Diocletian persecutions of 303-4. She refused to give up her Christian faith, and so was put to death. Her tomb can still be found in a Catacomb in Syracuse (Sicily), and there are early fourth-century inscriptions bearing her name (Euskia).
Lucy’s full story has been lost in the mists of time, but a romantic legend of her martyrdom grew up after her death. According to the legend, Lucy was arrested while giving to the poor at the height of the persecution. Her own fiancé had betrayed her, telling the authorities about her faith. The Judge ordered that she be raped in a brothel and then burned and some say her eyes were removed. However, all attempts to inflict such punishment on her went amiss, because God protected her. Finally, Lucy was killed by the sword.
Lucy’s legend was written in the 5th century, and she was honoured in Rome from the 6th century. The name Lucy means ‘light’ and in time she became the Patron Saint for those with eye diseases. Her feast day is close to the shortest day of the year, so it is celebrated in Sweden as a Festival of Light.
As the full details of Lucy’s martyrdom will never be known, she is often considered as representative of all the young women who have been willing to die for Christ, and whose full stories will also never be known to us.
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Featured Image: St. Lucy, Artemisia Gentileschi, c.1636-1638, PD, WikiCommons Images