Calliope Martyr

Description

Kalliopi (Calliope) was a Christian saint of the third century AD. She was executed in 250, near the beginning of Emperor Decius’ violent suppression of Christians within the Roman Empire.
There are no reliable historic sources for details of Kalliopi’s martyrdom, though it is generally accepted that she was beheaded. The following story has long been in circulation, though it probably rests more on legend than verifiable historic events:
By the age of twenty-one (by third century standards a ripe age), Kalliope had already passed the age at which most girls marry. In fact she had no social prospects at all. She spent her days dedicated to her religion with little thought to social life. She hadn’t been deemed ready for marriage even though she was obedient and met the criteria for marriage. When at last she seemed ready for marriage, many suitors asked for her hand. One pagan suitor sent word that were she to reject him in favor of another, especially a Christian, he would see to it that the pagan authorities would carry out their form of justice. Kalliopi did not hesitate to not only deny this suitor, but made it plain that she would not marry him even if he were a Christian—such a conversion, she said, could not be reliably authentic.