St. Anatolia

St. Anatolia, Virgin and Martyr in the time of Decius, was put to death in the city of Thyrum, or Thurium, or Thora. About the identity of the place there is considerable discussion among the critics. She was living in retirement with her sister when the persecution was raging, and was sought in marriage by a youth named Aurelius. That she was actually espoused, the Bollandists doubt. On the point of yielding because of the solicitations of her sister Victoria, she was strengthened by the vision of an angel. Banished to Thora she was denounced as a Christian. The executioner Audax shut her up in a room with a venomous serpent, but seeing that no harm was done to her he himself professed the faith and died a martyr. Anatolia was put to death by the sword. Her feast is kept 9 July.