St. Martina, V.M.

According to the story which for centuries hath been told of her, her martyrdom occured about the year 225... the Emperor Alexander commanded her to sacrifice to imaginary gods, and on her refusal, subjected her to unspeakable brutalities, such as scourgings, putting her at the mercy of savage beasts, torturing her with fire, and other such like terrible sufferings; and at last caused her to be beheaded. Scholars in general reject the account of her passion as untrustworthy; but the story is nevertheless known to contain the memory of what early Christian maidens underwent for God: and hence on this feast of Saint Martina, as on those of other virgin Saints whose life-story is not certainly known, there is honoured the might of Christ who perfecteth into strength invincible the weakness of them that trust in him.

-- Anglican Breviary, for the Legend, Feast of St. Martina (Jan. 30)