April 3rd.

SS. Agape, Irene and Chione.

The names of these three martyrs of Thessalonika in Northern Greece mean ‘Love’, ‘Peace’ and ‘White-as-Snow’. During the persecution of Emperor Maximian they took to a mountain hermitage, and were arrested, with others, under Diocletian (303). Refusing to eat food offered to idols, they were condemned as traitors; Agape and Chione were burnt alive, the others, being under age, were imprisoned. Irene was re-examined and admitted owning works of Scripture and defying her father by leaving home. She was sentenced to be confined in a brothel, but no man dared come near her, and eventually she too was burnt.