Akathistos

Before I discuss the life of St. Susanna (more information can be found at this link), I would like to share a quote from “Encountering Women of Faith”:

…we can discard the notion that saints are merely role models to be imitated. The saints in their diversity and complexity reveal the true meaning of Christian virtue. In getting to know the saints, we seek to know the source of their holiness. In getting to know the saints, we find they are men and women united to Christ, and who in “every place call on the name of the Lord” (1 Cor. 1:1-2). This perspective takes us beyond the genre where the life of the saint is a moral paradigm with no real historicity… They reveal the faith of living persons who opened themselves to God to the extent that God no longer shares a limited place in their life but is their life” (Arida 2).

Righteous St. Susanna in the Book of Daniel

Susanna was a rich and beautiful woman who lived in Babylonia due to the deportation of the Hebrews. She lived quite comfortably and did not suffer much despite being exiled. She married a prominent judge, Joakim, and together that had two children. They lived in priviledge with several servants and a beautiful garden. In the Book of Daniel, she is characterized as “a women who feared the Lord… [whose parents were righteous and had taught their daughter according to the Law of Moses” (Daniel 12:2-3).

Her beauty, which was considered to be a sign of one’s moral perfection, brought her much persecution. Two elders of the people pursued this married women and attempted to coerce her into adultery. When she refused, they threatened to expose an alleged affair with another elder. St. Susanna weighed the consequences of both actions, and chose to refuse the men’s advances and suffer the consequences rather than sin against her Lord. At that time the only atonement for such a crime was stoning.

The people held a trial in her home, a place that was to be a safehaven became torturous to her. Friends and family betrayed her, despite the fact that she lived a moral and godly life all of her days. Standing before the elders, she remained “clear-minded and resolute.” She prayed throughout her trial and was a witness to her God.

As she was being led to her execution, God acted through Daniel who is able to entice the elders to reconsider their verdict. They do so, and Susanna is exonerated, and, as a punishment for their actions, the elders are put to death. The sad part of this story is that Susanna made no impact upon the elders and people around her. Though she stood her ground and proclaimed the truth of God, people were not affected.

Hebrews 12:2 states, Susanna pointed to Christ, “who is the pioneer and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame.” St. Susanna endured hardships that were unwarranted and rose victorious.