St. Ariadne of Phrygia


Ariadne lived in the 2nd century in what is now central Turkey. She was a Christian and enslaved to a prominent official in Phrygia who was pagan. Around 130, the official held a large birthday celebration for his son which included rites to a pagan god. When Ariadne refused to participate in the rites, he became indignant and had her flogged. When she still refused, he dismissed her and sent her away.

Yet, even after that, the official was not satisfied with the slave woman who had defied him and called the authorities on her. She fled and fell into a chasm in a ridge, where she died. Some say the chasm opened for and closed behind her, providing her a tomb rather than a violent death at the hands of the authorities.

Her feast day is Sept. 18.

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