What were you doing when you were 12? I was in 6th and 7th grade, going to school, reading books and probably thinking about high school. In 7th grade, I made my confirmation, so there may have been some thoughts about becoming a “soldier of Christ”. When St. Aquilina was 12 in 293, she was condemned for being a Christian.
Aquilina was raised a Christian in the Phoenician city of Byblos (in the modern day country of Lebanon). She persuaded either one or several young pagans to convert to Christianity. Unfortunately, this was during the time of the Emperor Diocletian. The Emperor Diocletian was Emperor during the tenth and final persecution of early Christians. She was brought before the Magistrate Volusian (a great villainous sounding name). When Aquilina refused to deny her Christian faith, Volusian ordered her flogged. She was brought back to the Magistrate. Again, Aquilina passionately refused to deny her Christianity. Volusian ordered her ears pierced by hot rods. Aquilina fainted and was considered dead. Her body was thrown outside the city walls. That night an angel appeared to the still living Aquilina. After gaining consciousness, Aquilina came before the Magistrate again. This time he ordered her beheaded. Aquilina was found dead the morning she was to be beheaded. It is believed her head was chopped off even though she was dead because the executioner feared the governor.
Her body was buried outside the city’s wall. Her relics were transported to Constantinople. Aquilina’s feast day is June 13.
Some sources for St. Aquilina:
- Aquilina the Martyr Saint of Byblos, Lebanon
- Catholic Online
- The Holy Virgin-Martyr Akylina of Syria
- Cederland: Lebanese Saints
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