Saint Marina, a prominent figure in the Orthodox Church, is commemorated on July 17. In the Catholic tradition, she is known as Saint Margaret the Virgin Martyr, with her feast celebrated on July 20.
Marina lived during the 3rd century AD and hailed from Antioch in Pisidia, which is present-day Yalvaç, Turkey. She was the daughter of a pagan priest named Aidesios. At the tender age of 15, she rejected a marriage proposal from the governor Olympios. In retaliation, he exposed her Christian faith, leading to her arrest, torture, and ultimately, her beheading.
Saint Marina is recognized as the patron saint of Leros. In Western Christianity, she (Saint Margaret) is regarded as the protector of pregnant women, childbirth, those suffering from liver diseases, nurses, and the College of Queens at the University of Cambridge.
### Hymn of Saint Marina
The hymn dedicated to her reflects her steadfastness: «Having been betrothed to the Word, glorious Marina, you left behind all earthly ties and fought splendidly as a beautiful virgin; for you firmly trampled the invisible enemy, who appeared to you, O athlete. And now you bestow upon the world the gifts of healing.»
### Folklore and Traditions
The populace regards Saint Marina as the protector of frail and sickly children. In earlier times, mothers in Athens would take their children to the church dedicated to her on her feast day, located on the Hill of Nymphs. They would dress their children in new clothes and leave the old garments in the churchyard, hoping to rid their children of the illnesses that plagued them.
Farmers also associate her feast with meteorological phenomena, as reflected in local proverbs: «On Saint Marina’s day, grapes (or figs) and on Saint Elias, the harvest of grapes.» Another saying notes, «Saint Elias cuts the grapes, and Saint Marina the figs.»
This rich tapestry of history and tradition surrounding Saint Marina continues to resonate, reflecting the enduring legacy of her faith and the cultural practices that have evolved around her veneration.
