The Supplicatory Canon to St. Christina of Tyre (English)

Saint Christina of Tyre was a young virgin martyr who lived during the 3rd century, likely under the reign of Emperor Diocletian. Born into a wealthy pagan family in Tyre (in modern-day Lebanon), she was raised in luxury but developed a strong belief in Christ from a young age - either through divine revelation or contact with Christians.

Her father, a pagan official, locked her in a tower filled with idols, hoping she would worship them. Instead, she smashed the idols and prayed to the one true God. Enraged by her defiance, her father tortured her brutally, and after his death, other governors continued the torment. Christina endured horrific trials - burning, mutilation, and exposure to wild beasts - yet she miraculously survived each one, converting onlookers through her witness. She was eventually beheaded, likely around the age of 21.

Her feast day is celebrated on July 24, and she is venerated as a fearless defender of the faith, especially inspiring to young women and those facing persecution.