09/04/2026
September 4: Holy Virgin Martyr & Unmercenary Healer Hermione, daughter of Saint Philip the Deacon
Born in Caesarea of Palestine early in the first century, St. Hermione was a daughter of Saint Philip the Deacon (Acts, chapter 6). Inspired by a true understanding of the gospel, she studied the philosophy of medicine in her native city. After the Christians were driven out of Palestine, St. Hermione traveled to Ephesus to seek out the St. John the Evangelist, but arrived too late as he had already departed this life.
St. Hermione bought a house and founded a medical clinic, devoted to the treatment of the poor and the homeless. Joined by her sister Eukhidia, she added rooms for these homeless ones and for poor travelers who were ill. Thus was established the first of those hospital-hostels or xenodukia, which would become so much a part of the Orthodox Christian tradition. Like the other unmercenary physicians who would come after her, she understood that salvation consisted in the healing and liberation of the whole person—body and soul together. While ministering to the physical illnesses of those who came to her, the saint also nourished them with the gospel and led them to that true healing and freedom in Jesus Christ.
Filled with the grace of the Holy Spirit, St. Hermione was given the gift of prophecy. She became a link in the chain of New Testamentprophets who were united in spirit and calling with the great Old Testament prophets.
Martyrdom
At that time, Emperor Trajan (98-117) was waging war against the Persians. When he heard of Saint Hermione's prophetic gift, he stopped at Ephesus in order to have her predict what his future would be. She told him that he would defeat the Persians, and that his son-in-law Hadrian would succeed him as the Emperor of Rome. Then Trajan discovered that Hermione was a Christian, and at first he tried to persuade her to renounce Christ with gentle admonitions. When this did not succeed, he commanded that she should be struck in the face for several hours, but she endured this suffering with patience. Moreover, she was comforted by a vision of the Lord, Who appeared in the form of Petronius, and sitting upon the Judgment Seat.
Convinced that Hermione would continue steadfast in her faith, Trajan released her. Later she built a hospice where she cared for the sick, treating their physical and spiritual infirmities.
Trajan’s successor, Hadrian, also demanded that the Saint be brought to trial for professing the Christian Faith. At first, the Emperor ordered that she be beaten mercilessly, then the soles of her feet were pierced with nails; and finally they threw her into a cauldron filled with boiling tar, lead, and sulphurous brimstone. The Saint bore all this without complaint, giving thanks to God.
The Lord was merciful and the fire was extinguished, the lead poured out, and Saint Hermione remained unharmed. Astonished, Hadrian went to the place of torture and touched the cauldron to ascertain whether it had cooled. When he touched the cauldron, he burned the skin of his hand, but even this did not dissuade the Emperor.
Then Hadrian ordered that she be thrown naked into a large red-hot copper vessel. Her Guardian Angel protected her and put out the fire, which burned those standing around her. The Saint stood in the vessel, as if on dewy grass, singing hymns of praise to the Lord.
When she was removed from the vessel, the Holy Martyr pretended that she was ready to sacrifice to the pagan "god" Hercules. The delighted Emperor had her taken to the temple, but when she prayed to the only true God, a loud thunderclap was heard, and all the idols in the pagan temple fell down and shattered.
In a rage, Trajan ordered that Saint Hermione be led out of the city and executed. Two servants, Theódoulos and Theótimos, were commanded to carry out his orders. Because they were in such a hurry to execute the Saint, they did not allow her time to pray, and their hands were withered. Then they believed in Jesus Christ, and falling at Saint Hermione's feet in repentance, they entreated her to pray that the Lord would heal them and call them to Himself before her martyrdom. By her prayers, that is what transpired. Afterward, she was beheaded and was buried at Ephesus.
Through her holy prayers, may we also find healing and salvation.
Source: "Lives of the Saints," Vol. 11, Synaxis Press and OCA.org
