22 July
St. Markella had been trained by her mother
to be respectful and devout, and to guard her purity. She avoided associations
with other girls who were more outgoing than she was so that she would not come
to spiritual harm through such company. Her goal was to attain the Kingdom of Heaven
St. Markella increased in virtue as she grew
older, fasting, praying, and attending church services. She tried to keep the
commandments and to lead others to God. She loved and respected her father, and
comforted him in his grief over her mother’s death. She told him she would take
care of him in his old age and would not abandon him.
As an adult,
St. Markella was loved by everyone for her beauty and for her spiritual gifts.
The devil tried to lure her into sin by placing evil thoughts in her mind.
However, St. Markella resisted these temptations and so the devil turned away
from a direct confrontation with her. Instead, he incited her father with an
unnatural desire for his daughter.
Eventually, Markella’s father changed in his
behavior toward his child. He became moody and depressed, forbidding her to go
into the garden or to speak with the neighbors. Unable to understand the reason
for this change, she went to her room and wept. She prayed before an icon of
the Mother of God, asking Her to help him. Soon she fell asleep, only to be
awakened by her father’s shouting.
The
unfortunate man had spent a long time struggling against his lust, but finally
gave into it. At times he would speak to his daughter roughly, then later he
would appear to be gentle. He wanted to be near her, and to stroke her hair.
Unaware of her father’s intentions, St Markella was happy to see him emerge
from his melancholy state, thinking that her prayers had been answered.
One day, her father openly declared the
nature of his feelings for her. Horrified, Markella tried to avoid him as much
as she could. Even the neighbors realized that there was something wrong, so
they stopped speaking to him.
One day, a shepherd was tending his sheep
near the beach, and led them into the shade of a tree to avoid the hot July
sun. Just as he was about to lie down, he heard a noise and looked up. He saw a
young woman with a torn dress running down the hill. She hid in a nearby bush,
ignoring its thorns.
The shepherd
wondered who was chasing her, and how she had come to this spot. He then heard
the sound of a horse approaching, and recognized the mayor of the village. He
asked the shepherd if he had seen his daughter., Markella. The shepherd said
that he had not seen her, but pointed to her hiding place with his finger.
The mayor ordered Markella to come out of the
bush, but she refused. He then set fire to the bush in order to force her out.
She emerged and ran toward the rocky shore, calling out to the Mother of God
for help.
Markella continued to run, even though blood
was flowing from her face and hands. Feeling a sharp pain in her leg, she saw
that she had been shot with an arrow. She paused to pull it out, then began to
run once more. She scrambled over the rocks, staining them with her blood.
Hearing her father getting closer, she prayed that the earth would open up and
swallow her.
Markella sank to her knees, her strength all
gone. Then a miracle took place. The rock split open and received her body up
to the waist. Her father drew near with wild-eyed joy shouting, “I have caught
you. Now where will you go?”
Drawing his
sword, he began to butcher his helpless daughter, cutting off pieces of her
body. Finally, he seized her by the hair and cut off her head, throwing it into
the sea. The calm sea suddenly became stormy, and large waves crashed to the
shore near her father’s feet. Thinking that the sea was going to drown him
because of his crime, he turned and fled. His ultimate fate has not been
recorded.
Later, pious
Christians built a church on the spot where St. Markella hid in the bush. The
spot where she was killed became known as “The Martyrdom of St. Markella,” and
the rock that opened to receive her is still there. The rock appears to be a
large stone that broke off from a mountain and rolled into the sea. Soil from
the mountain covers the spot on the side facing the land. On the side facing
the ocean is a small hole, about the size of a finger. Healing water flows from
the opening, which cures every illness of the faithful. The flow of water is
not due to the movements of the tide, because when the tide is out, there would
be no water. This, however, is not the case. The water is clear, but some of
the nearby rocks have been stained with a reddish-yellow colour. According to
tradition, the lower extremities of St. Markella’s body are still concealed in
the rock.
The most astonishing thing about the rock is
not the warmth of the water, nor the discoloration of the other rocks, but what
happens when a priest performs the Blessing of Water. Steam rises up from the
water near the rock, and the entire area is covered with a mist. The sea
returns to normal as soon as the service is over. Many miracles have occurred
at the spot, and pilgrims flock there from all over the world.
Apolytikion in the
First Tone.
Submitting to
the laws of the Lord's divine teachings, you strove to keep them blamelessly, O
Martyr Markella. And fearing the violence of your father, you fled from him and
dwelt in the mountains. Pursuing you he found you and slew you, O undefiled
bride of Christ. Glory to Him who strengthened you. Glory to Him who crowned
you. Glory to Him who works healings for all through you.
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