Christina was born in the city of Tyre
the daughter of Urban, the imperial deputy, an idol worshipper. The
reason her parents gave her the name of Christina is unknown but it
concealed the mystery of her future following of Christ. Until age
eleven, she knew nothing of Christ. When she
reached the age of
eleven her father, in order to conceal her from the world because of
her extraordinary beauty until she fully matured, designated the
highest floor of a tall tower for her to live. All the comforts of
life were afforded her; slaves were given to serve her, gold and
silver idols were placed in her quarters so that she may offer daily
sacrifices to them. However, in this idolatrous environment, it was
difficult for the soul of young Christina. Looking out through the
window each day at the sun and all the beauty of the world then,
again at night, at the miraculous cluster of shining stars,
Christina, through her own natural understanding came to the firm
belief in the One Living God. The merciful God, seeing her longing
for the truth, sent His angel who traced the sign of the cross upon
Christina and called her the bride of Christ and completely
instructed her in godly understanding. Christina then smashed all the
idols in her quarters and provoked wild fury in her father. Her
father brought her to trial and handed her over to be tortured and,
after that, threw her into the dungeon with the intention to behead
her the next day. That night Urban, completely healthy, parted from
his soul and went to the grave before his daughter. After that two
imperial deputies, Dion and Julian, continued to torture this holy
virgin. Christina's courageous endurance and her miracles, which she
worked by the power of God, converted many pagans of Tyre to
Christianity. During the torturing of Christina, Dion suddenly fell
dead in the midst of the people. Dion's successor, Julian, severed
the breasts and tongue of Christina. The martyr took her tongue and
threw it into Julian's face and he was instantly blinded. Finally her
suffering for Christ ended by death beneath the sharp sword and her
life continues in the immortal kingdom of the angels. Christina
honorably suffered in the third century.
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