Domnina, Berenice, and Prosdoce
| Saints Domnina, Berenice, and Prosdoce | |
|---|---|
| Martyrs | |
| Died | 310 AD Syria |
| Venerated in | Roman Catholic Church; Eastern Orthodox Church |
| Feast | October 4 |
Saint Domnina and her daughters Berenice (Bernice, Veronica, Verine, Vernike) and Prosdoce are venerated as Christian martyrs by the Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox Churches.[1]
According to Eusebius, Domnina was a Christian noblewoman from Antioch who had two young daughters.[2] According to one account, Domnina and her daughters settled at Edessa, Mesopotamia.[3] Her husband was a pagan.[3]
Domnina was arrested by soldiers for her adherence to the Christian religion.[2] Fearing that the soldiers would rape her and her daughters, they threw themselves into a river after they asked their guards for a chance to rest for a while[2] or after the soldiers had become drunk with wine.[3] All three women drowned.[2]
The account of St. John Chrysostom tells a slightly different story: according to Chrysostom, Domnina, after jumping into the river, pulled her daughters in with her to prevent them from being raped.[3] Chrysostom praised Domnina for her courage and Domnina’s daughters for their obedience.[3]
