1. Saint Demiana and the 40 virgins was a Coptic martyr of the early fourth century.
13 Facts About Demiana
1. 2.
Demiana was the governor of el-Borollos, el-Zaafaran, and Wadi al-Saysaban districts in the Northern delta of the Nile River in Egypt.
3.
When Demiana was still a young child, her mother died, and her father did his utmost to raise her a virtuous Christian.
4.
Demiana said she had devoted herself as a bride of Christ and intended to live in celibacy and serve the Lord.
5.
Demiana requested her father to build her an isolated house on the outskirts of the city where she could live with her friends, away from the world and its temptations.
6.
Demiana's father granted her wish and built her a large palace in the wilderness.
7.
When Emperor Diocletian learned that it was Mark's daughter, St Demiana, who had persuaded her father to return to worshiping Jesus Christ, he ordered one of his commanders, who was a prince, to attack her palace with one hundred soldiers.
8.
The prince was enraged with Demiana and ordered her to be placed in the Hinbazeen until blood poured on the ground.
9.
Demiana was subjected to additional tortures, but through it all her faith sustained her.
10.
St Demiana received three heavenly crowns: for her virginity, her endurance of torture and her martyrdom.
11.
Every year, many people visit St Demiana's shrine, asking for her intercessions.
12.
St Demiana is the founder of monasticism for Coptic Orthodox nuns and the princess of female martyrs of the Coptic Orthodox Church.
13.
Saint Demiana is the founder of monasticism for Coptic Orthodox nuns and the highest ranking female martyr of the Coptic Orthodox Church due to her forbearance of great persecution, torture and suffering.