Gyceria was the daughter of a Roman
governor. Becoming impoverished after her father's death, Glyceria
settled in Trajanopolis in Thrace. During the reign of the nefarious
Emperor Antoninus, Glyceria was taken to offer sacrifices to the idol
of Jupiter [Zeus]. She traced the sign of the cross on her forehead
and when the Prefect Sabinus questioned her concerning her lamp, (for
all of them carried lamps in their hands), Glyceria pointed to the
cross on her forehead and said: "This is my lamp." As a
result of her prayer lightning struck the idol and smashed it to
pieces. The prefect became angry and ordered her flogged and thrown
into prison. The prefect sealed the doors to the prison, determined
to starve the virgin to death. However, an angel of God appeared to
Glyceria and administered heavenly food to her. After a period of
time, when the prefect thought that the virgin must have died from
hunger, he opened the doors of the prison and was astonished when he
saw her healthy, radiant and joyful. Witnessing this miracle,
Laodicius, the jailer confessed Christ the Lord and was immediately
beheaded. After that Glyceria was thrown into a fiery furnace but
remained unharmed by the fire. Standing in the midst of the fire and,
remembering the miracle of the three youths in the Babylonian
furnace, Glyceria praised the Lord. Finally, she was thrown to the
lions and, praying to God, this holy virgin gave up her soul to the
Lord for Whom she bravely endured many tortures. She suffered
honorably in the year 177 A.D. A healing oil [myrrh] emitted from her
relics which healed the sick of the gravest diseases.
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