St. Soteris

As a young Christian woman of Rome, Soteris, intent upon protecting her chastity with modesty, renounced the wearing of any finery that would have drawn attention to her exceptional beauty. During one of the many waves of persecution under the pagan Roman emperors, Soteris was arrested for her faith. After refusing to deny Christ before the judge interrogating her, she was repeatedly struck in the face. The Church Father Saint Ambrose, who was proud to be a descendant of Soteris' family, relates that, as Soteris was undergoing this torment, "she did not bend her head, did not turn her face away, did not emit a sigh or tear." Rather, Soteris considered herself honored to suffer what Christ had suffered when in his Passion he was struck in the face. Other tortures were also inflicted, but nothing was able to undermine Soteris' constancy. In the end, the judge ordered her to be beheaded.