Who Is Saint Corona?
Corona was a young woman of sixteen, the wife of a soldier, married only fourteen months. She came to believe in Christ during the torture of the martyr Victor: she saw two angels, each carrying a crown, one of them for the martyr Victor. She then rushed forward and declared her faith in order to win the second.
Silence hung over the place of martyrdom. Everyone, even unbelievers, had their hearts drawn to the martyr Victor, gazing at his face, which bore the spirit of victory and expressed his faith in God, the giver of victory. Everyone also fell silent to hear his moving prayer.
In the midst of this awesome silence, Corona’s cry shook the whole square. With courage she announced that the Lord had opened her eyes to see heaven opened and the two crowns coming down. She was like a runner in a race, afraid the second crown would slip out of her hands.
The governor summoned her and tried to make her give up her faith, but she stood firm.
A dialogue took place between her and the governor:
- “Do you think, governor, that I will lose this crown?”
- “Your madness, poor little one, will cost you your precious jewels and your fine clothes, and even your life! You will see it with your own eyes.”
- “I would rather lose these perishable things, clothes and jewels, and even this body, for my Christ will pour out on me the riches of his mercy!”
- “For the second time I tell you: get up, woman, and pray to the gods.”
- “Don’t try to frighten me; I will not lose the heavenly crown in order to obey your orders.”
In a rage, the governor had two trees that stood near the court bent toward each other. The executioners tied her limbs to both trees, and at a signal the trees were released and sprang back to their natural position, each one keeping half of the martyr.
(From the book The Garden of Women Saints)
Prepared by Rita, of the Sawt el Rab team
