Today the Church remembers St. Calliope, Martyr.
Ora pro nobis.
By the age of twenty-one (by third century standards this made her middle-aged given that the average lifespan was 35-40 years, when most people were considered adults and were married at age 13), Kalliope had already passed the age at which most women married. Most marriages were arranged between parents, which indicates that her betrothed died young and her parents could not arrange another or they had never managed to arrange a marriage, probably because they were Christians in a time when being a Christian was illegal and opened Christians to persecution, deprivation, and death. Whatever the case, Calliope seemed unworried about her unmarried state. She instead spent her days dedicated to her religion, with little thought to fitting in with hostile pagan society.
Though considered to be middle-aged, just before her death many suitors asked for her hand. Perhaps she had inherited money or property, suddenly making her desirable despite her age. One pagan suitor sent word that were she to reject him in favor of another, especially a Christian, he would accuse her of being a Christian, and see to it that the pagan authorities would carry out their form of justice. Calliope did not hesitate to not only deny this suitor, but make it plain that she would not marry him even if he were a Christian—such a conversion, she said, could not be reliably authentic.
This put her at further odds with the Roman government who saw her as a traitor, in addition to being a Christian in a pagan land that regularly saw Christians persecuted and martyred. The spurned suitor followed through with his threat, and arranged for her to be brought before a magistrate, where she was accused of a variety of crimes ranging from mocking of the pagan state religion to treason against the state.
According to tradition, the suitor paid a parade of witnesses to testify against Calliope in order to destroy her reputation. She was deemed guilty, and the rejected suitor stepped forth to offer a withdrawal of the charges against her if she would disavow Christ and become his pagan bride. The alternative was torture, and upon further refusal death.
Taken to the public square, she was bound to the post and mercilessly flogged until her clothing and flesh were in tatters. Her beautiful face was scarred with branding irons and salt was poured into her open wounds, and while the breath of life was still within her she was told to disavow Christ. When she persisted in the faith she was beheaded.
Almighty God, who gave to your servant Calliope boldness to confess the Name of our Savior Jesus Christ before the rulers of this world, and courage to die for this faith: Grant that we may always be ready to give a reason for the hope that is in us, and to suffer gladly for the sake of our Lord Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever.
Amen.
