Soteris the Martyr

Today is the feast of St. Scholastica we did her last year so today I present:

Saint Soteris the Martyr

memorial
10 February

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Our Saint for today was an ancestor of Saint Ambrose of Milan, at least he would proudly claim to be a descendant of hers as he contemplated the importance of beekeeping and other things. Soteris was a well fixed and wealthy Roman Christian in the third century. It is said she was a beautiful young woman, as all early Christians were apparently, good thing some of my cousins weren’t around then….In spite of her beauty Soteris would go around in simple dress and minimal ornamentation, so men would ignore her like they ignore my cousins. She led a simple prayerful life, it was almost as a precursor to the female religious orders in years to come.

In reading her story I was reminded of Wilmer McClean. The American Civil war began in Wilmer’s front yard and ended in his parlor. The First Battle of Bull Run (First Mannasas) took place on McLean's farm, the Union Army artillery fired at McLean's house, which was being used as a headquarters for Confederate Brigadier General P. G. T. Beauregard, and a cannonball dropped through the kitchen fireplace. After this he decided to move to southern Virginia to get away from the action and a desire to protect his family from a repetition of their combat experience. He moved to Appomattox County, Virginia, near a dusty, crossroads community called Appomattox Court House. In 1865 Lee surrendered to Grant in the parlor of McLean's house, in Appomattox…. effectively ending the Civil War.

Anyhoo, our Saint was arrested by the Emperor Decius’ sinister Agents and tortured for her faith. She was eventually released, undaunted and still full of faith, she returned to her prayerful life. Fifty years later she was arrested again, this time by the sinister Agents of Emperor Diocletian. He was a bit more serious about the pagan god sacrifice thing, naturally Soteris told him to take a hike. On this date in or about the year 302, Diocletian had her beaten and beheaded, which is almost always effective in making martyrs. In spite of all this all records indicate that, no matter the torture, she never once cried out, or flinched or showed weakness in any way. She was buried in the Catacombs of San Callisto.