November 15, 2015

Guria, Shamuna & Habib, Martyrs & Confessors of Edessa

Of these Martyrs of the city of Edessa in Syria, Guria and Shamuna contested in 288; after many tortures, they were cast into prison, then beheaded. Saint Habib, a deacon, contested in 316, and was burned alive; he was buried with Saints Guria and Shamuna. The three have one common feast. On account of a miracle they worked, they are invoked for help in marital difficulties. A Goth had come with the Roman army to Edessa and was quartered in the house of a pious widow, Sophia. The Goth asked Sophia for the hand of her daughter, Euphemia; after resisting for a long time, Sophia agreed. When it was time for the army to return home, Sophia made the Goth vow by the power in the holy Martyrs Shamuna, Guria, and Habib, to keep Euphemia as the apple of his eye. However, the man revealed to Euphemia that he already had a wife. Euphemia was compelled to serve the Goths wife, who dealt with her mercilessly. After extreme sufferings, including being sealed alive in a tomb and left there to die, Euphemia was miraculously conveyed to Edessa, to the shrine of the holy Martyrs whose surety they had taken, and was reunited with her mother through their holy prayers.

Parish Council on duty:
John Argiropoulos, John Ioannou, Jr., Tony Maiorana, Anna Merkel, Garry Paxinos, Demetri Rapanos, Mark Zaden, Kathy Ziegler