To Struggle for Righteousness in the Face of Struggles

 "I know only Christ as my Bridegroom, Whom I shall not deny, even if you tear me to shreds."

St. Zlata of Meglena was born in the mid-1700s in the village of Slatina near Meglena. Her family was poor, and she had three other sisters. In 1759, their region became primarily Muslim and those who remained Christian faced intense pressure to renounce their faith.

St. Zlata was known for being both beautiful and strong in character. One day, while out gathering firewood or water for her family, she was kidnapped by a man who tried to convert her by promising her marriage. Some sources say this went on for up to six months, but St. Zlata remained unmoved, continuing to respond with the words above. She would have no other Bridegroom but Christ.

Eventually, St. Zlata’s family was called in to try to persuade her, with the threats of torture and death if they refused. They begged St. Zlata to convert “in word only” in order to spare them, but she remained firm, telling them, “I have the Lord Jesus Christ as my father, the Theotokos as my mother, and the saints as my brothers and sisters." Her strength of character allowed her to withstand every social pressure and temptation in order to point to the true source of Life.

St. Zlata was tortured in prison for three months before receiving the crown of martyrdom. In the midst of her suffering, she called for her spiritual father Timotheus, who prayed for her and blessed her to remain steadfast until the end.

Some sources say that, as if her earlier words pointed prophetically to her martyrdom, her body was cut to pieces after her death. Christians secretly buried and venerated her relics, as an encouragement to each of them in a time of great uncertainty.

Holy Mother Zlata, pray to God for us!

Troparion

You were a golden vessel of virginity and an undefiled bride of Christ, O most glorious virgin Zlata; for having preserved your virginity blamelessly, you contested for Christ in a godly manner. O glorious Martyr, entreat your Bridegroom to grant us great mercy.

What does St. Zlata have to say to us as Orthodox women today? We may not be facing her same possibility of martyrdom, but all of us are faced with the reality of unchosen death and suffering in our lives. With St. Zlata, we can remind ourselves that “I have the Lord Jesus Christ as my father, the Theotokos as my mother, and the saints as my brothers and sisters." Our bodies, in both times of suffering and joy, can be the place we meet Christ and the place we speak to His Life in the midst of darkness.

St. Zlata’s life also shows us that there is a holy space for being strong-willed and persistent - not responding to violence with violence, but being untouchable even by threats and holding fast to what we know is true. If there is a strong-willed woman in your life who uses this trait on behalf of goodness and justice, celebrate her today!