Saints Chrysanthus and Daria

In 3rd-century Rome, there was something called vestal virgins: they were six state-protected priestesses who tended to the temple of the goddess Vesta. Each was chosen while a young girl and served a 30 year term of chastity. Daria was one of them. All the while preserving her vow, she married a fellow virgin (and, now, fellow saint) named Chrysanthus, who converted her to Christianity. Together, the pair went on to convert scores of Romans — so many that they were arrested for it.

Chrysanthus was tortured to death, though his resilience inspired 70 attending soldiers to convert. But the rules of the Vestal Virgins said Daria’s blood could not be shed. As punishment, instead, she was sent to live as a prostitute, but at the brothel a lioness appeared to defend her chastity. So the state decided she should just be buried alive, which she was, in a sand pit next to her husband.

Years later, on the anniversary of Daria’s death, a group of Christians went to pay tribute at their grave, and Romans buried them alive too.

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