Akathistos

Continuing my reading of “Encountering Women of Faith”, I embarked on a journey through the life of Susanna of Palestine, deaconess and martyr. Like St. Susanna of the Book of Daniel, this Susanna was beautiful and wealthy. She was born in the early part of the 4th century to a father who was a wealthy pagan priest and a Jewish mother (what a combination!). Her mother influenced her faith, but both parents passed away when Susanna was still a child, before she was of age to be placed in an arranged marriage. She was informed that when she was of marrying age and had found a suitable husband, she would then inherit the fortunes of her father. Although, Susanna was a beautiful, benefactress of an estate, she chose to remain unmarried after she was baptized into the Christian faith, under the influences of a presbyter named Silvanus. Despite her singleness, she insisted upon inheriting the estate which was rightfully hers (very radical for the time). She then used her wealth to help the sick, widows and orphans, and she also released her slaves from their duties at the estate.

She then did the most shocking thing of all: she dressed herself as a man, asked to be called John, and joined a monastery (which isn’t uncommon in the history of the church). At some point during her time as a monastic, she was given the position of archimandrite, a superior abbot whom a bishop appoints to supervise several “ordinary” abbots and monasteries. While residing at the monastery, her values were called in question when she was accused of seducing a nun. She faced the absurd allegations in silence, and eventually asked to meet with two deaconesses who discovered her real secret: she wasn’t a man, but a woman.

After this incident, St. Susanna joined a convent where she remained until her martyrdom in 363. She was arrested and tortured, during which time she asked the Lord to “receive her soul.” She is commemorated on both September 20 and December 15.