Baring-Gould’s sources: By the Greeks on different days, July 15th and 17th. Roman Martyrology. Authority: — Eusebius of Caesarea, in his account of the Martyrs of Palestine.] Among the numerous martyrs who suffered at Caesarea in Palestine, in the persecution of Diocletian, an account of whom has been given by Eusebius, bishop of Caesarea, and a contemporary — he wrote in 324, sixteen years after the martyrdoms — was a woman, whose name Eusebius does not give, but whom the Greek Menaea calls Thea. 1 The governor, Firmilian, had taken several Christians at Gaza, and they were brought to Caesarea to receive sentence. This woman “ not enduring the threat of violation, and having used a certain expression against the tyrant, for committing the government to such cruel judges, was scourged, then racked, and her sides galled and torn.” Whilst she was thus suffering, another woman, Valentina, standing by, roused to indignation and disgust, exclaimed, u Monster, how long will you thus cruelly torture my sister ?” Firmillian instantly ordered her apprehension. She boldly declared herself a Christian, and resisted every effort made to induce her to sacrifice. She was dragged to the altar by force, her hands extended, and incense put in them which the tormentors were about to force her to 1 The Roman Martyrology, following Eusebius, does not give the name of Thea.

…strew on the flames before the idol, when she spurned the altar with her foot, threw it over, and scattered the fire on the ground. The governor was furious, and tormented her with the utmost ingenuity and cruelty, “ glutting himself with her very flesh wounds and the lacerations of her body.” And then, weary of this profitless struggle, he ordered Valentina and u the former woman, whom she had called her sister,” to be cast into the flames. Thea was a native of Gaza, but Valentina was of Caesarea. After this, a Christian named Paul was brought up for execution. When he was about to receive the fatal stroke, he prayed for the conversion of the Jews, the Samaritans, the Gentiles, for the emperors, the judge who condemned him, and the executioner who held the sword over his head.