Holy Forty Women Martyrs and Martyr Ammon the Deacon, their teacher, at Heraclea in Thrace
These holy women lived at Adrianople in Thrace during the reign of Emperor Licinius, who was coruler with Saint Constantine the Great (May 21). Babdos, the ruler of the region (circa 305) arrested them as Christians and tried to force them to worship idols. A certain woman named Kelsίna, was a prominent citizen. After her courageous confession of the Faith she gathered them all in her home, along with their teacher, Deacon Ammoun (Ammoún), in order to strengthen them for martyrdom. Ammoun took a paper with their names on it and read them aloud one by one. Then he said: "Strive for Christ through martyrdom, for in this way the Master Christ at the gate of the heavenly Kingdom will call you by name, one by one, in order to bestow upon you a crown of eternal life."
When the ruler interrogated them again, all of the Martyrs steadfastly confessed their faith. They prayed to God, and shattered the idols, then suddenly the pagan priest was lifted up into the air by an invisible force, and after being tormented for a long time, he fell to the ground dead. Then Babdos ordered Saint Ammoun to be suspended in order to rake his sides, and burn his wounds with lit candles, and then a red-hot bronze helmet was placed on his head, but miraculously the Holy Martyr was delivered from them.
Since the Saint was unharmed by his ordeal, he was led along with his disciples from Veroe [modern Stara Zagora (Stára Zagorá) in Bulgaria] to Heraclea, and brought to the ruler Licinius. On the way the Lord appeared and encouraged them. Arriving in the city they went to the place where the holy relics of the Virgin Martyr Glykerίa (May 13) were buried. While they spent the night there praying, the Saint appeared and said: "Welcome, holy servants of God! I have long awaited your glorious companions in Christ, so that we might dance crowned with the Holy Angels in Christ's Kingdom, Whom we have confessed unto blood."
Saint Ammoun and the Holy Virgins were taken to Heraclea (Ηράκλεια) to face further torments. There they were thrown to the wild beasts. The holy women and their teacher prayed standing with upraised hands, but the animals fell asleep and did not touch them. While the soldiers were lighting a fire in which to throw the Martyrs, they predicted to the impious Licinius the victory of Saint Constantine the Great, the triumph of Christianity, and the eradication of idolatry. Then they were sealed with the Sign of the Cross. Ten of them leaped into the flames rejoicing and praising God, Who bedewed the fire. Another eight were beheaded with a sword along with their teacher Ammoun. Another ten were executed after being stabbed in the heart with a sword, or after red-hot irons had been put into their mouths. Six more were also slaughtered, and the remaining six departed to the Lord in peace.
Their names have been preserved in their ancient Martyrion (Bibliotheca Hagiographica Graeca 2280-2281): Laurencia (Λαυρεντία) the Deaconess, Kelsίna, (Κελσίνα), Theoktisti (Theoktistē/Theókleia), Dorothy (Δωροθέα), Eutykhiani (Eutykhianē/Ευτυχιανή), Thekla (Θέκλα), Aristainete (Αρισταινέτη), Philadelphi (Philadḗlphē/Φιλαδέλφη), Maria, Veronica (Βερονίκη), Eulalia, or Euthymia (Eulalίa/Ευλαλία η Euthymίa/Ευθυμία), Lamprotati (Lamprotátē/Λαμπροτάτη), Euphymίa (Ευφημία), Theodora, Theodótē (Θεοδότη), Tetesia (Τετεσία), Aquilina, Theodoule (Θεοδούλη), Aplodora (Aplodóra/Απλοδώρα), Lampadί]ia (Lampadίa/Λαμπαδία), Prokopia (Prokopίa/Προκοπία), Maura (Maúra/Μαύρα), Paula (Παύλα), Juliana (Ιουλιάνα), Ampliani (Amplianḗ/Αμπλιανή), Persis (Persίs/Περσίς), Gregoria (Gregorίa/Γρηγορία), Κuriα, or Kyriaivi (Κυρία/Κυρία η Kyriaίvē/Κυριαίνη), Vassa (Βάσσα), Kalliniki (Kallinίkē/Καλλινίκη), Barbara (Βαρβάρα), Kyriaki (Kyriakḗ/Κυριακή), Agathoniki (Agathonίkē/Αγαθονίκη), Timothea (Timothḗa/Τιμοθέα), Justa (Ιούστα), Irene (Ειρήνη), Matrona (Matróna/Ματρώνα) or Agathonike, Agathonίkē/Αγαθονίκη), Tatiana (Τατιανή), Anna, or Anthousa (Άννα η Anthoúsa/Ανθούσα).
Here is another list: Adamantini (Adamantίnē/Ἀδαμαντίνη), Kalliroe (Καλλιρόη), Kharikleia, (Χαρίκλεια), Penelope (Πηνελόπη), Kleio (Kleió/Κλειὼ), Thaleia (Tháleia/Θάλεια), Marianthe (Μαριάνθη), Eutirpe (Eutḗrpe/Εὐτέρπη), Terpsichore (Terpsichóre/Τερψιχόρη), Ourania (Ouranίa/Οὐρανία), Kleoniki (Κλεονίκη), Sappho (Σαπφώ), Erató (Erato/Ἐρατώ), Polymnia (Πολύμνια), Dodoni (Dodónē /Δωδώνη), Athena (Athená/Αθηνά), Troada (Troáda/Τρωάδα), Cleopatra (Κλεοπάτρα), Korallia (Korallίa/Κοραλία), Kallisti (Kallίstē/Καλλίστη), Theonoi (Theonóē/Θεονόη), Theono (Theonó/Θεανώ), Aspasia (Aspasίa/Ἀσπασία), Polyniki (Polynίkē/Πολυνίκη), Dioni (Diónē/Διόνη), Theophani (Theophánē/Θεοφάνη), Erasmia (Erasmίa/'Ἐρασμία), Ermineia (Ermēneίa/Ἑρμηνεία), Aphroditi (Aphrodίtē/Ἀφροδίτη), Margarita (Μαργαρίτα), Antigone (Antigóne/Ἀντιγόνη), Pandora (Pandóra/Πανδώρα), Khaido (Kháϊdo/Χάϊδω), Lambro (Lámbro/Λάμπρω), Mosoho (Mósoho/Μόσχω), Ariboia (Arēboϊa/Ἀρηβοΐα), Theonymphi (Theonymphē /Θεονύμφη), Akrivi (Akrivē/Ακριβή), Melpomeni (Melpoménē/Μελπομένη), Elpiniki (Elpinίkē/Ἐλπινίκη), and Ammoun (Ammoún/Ammoún) their teacher.
As far as the names of the 40 Holy Virgins are concerned, we must use caution, because some of their names, e.g. Khaido (Khaϊdo/Χάϊδω), Lambro (Λάμπρω) etc., belong to the later centuries (XVI– XVIII), and not to those of the IV century, when the Saints were martyred.
Many will be surprised to notice the names of pagan and mythological figures listed here. However, The Holy Passion-Bearers, Saints Boris and Gleb, were the sons of Saint Vladimir (July 15). Saint Boris was named Romanos and Saint Gleb was named David at their Baptism. After their martyrdom, their former names were sanctified. It is reasonable to assume that the same thing occurred with the Holy Virgin Martyrs of the IV century.