Martyr Ariádnē of Phrygia

The Holy Martyr Ariádnē was a slave of Tertullus, a prominent official of the city of Promissia, Phrygia in the reign of Emperor Hadrian (117–161). Although she was only a slave, Saint Ariádnē was wiser than many noble ladies, who were enslaved by worldly vanities and “every defilement of flesh and spirit" (2 Corinthians 7:1).

Once, on his son's birthday, when her master offered sacrifice to the pagan "gods," his Christian slave Ariádnē refused to participate in the wicked celebration. As a result, she was beaten and, after hanging her up, they raked her body with sharp iron hooks. Then the martyr was thrown into prison and starved for a long time in order to make her worship the idols. Saint Ariádnē, however, persisted in her confession of Christ, and it was impossible to convince her to offer sacrifice.

Realizing that the Saint would not change her mind, they released her. To avoid further pressure, she fled the city, but Tertullus sent men to follow her. Seeing that she was being pursued, the Holy Martyr ran, begging God to protect her from her enemies.

Suddenly, by her prayers, a crevice formed in the mountain, and Saint Ariádnē disappeared into it, and surrendered her soul to God. Other sources say that she fell off a cliff and was killed.