Holy Martyr Agatha (feastday: February 5) came from a city on the island of Sicily which was called Panormos. She shined with bodily beauty (which was not damaged by the ravages of time) and spiritual fairness, but was also full of riches and material goods. She lived during the reign of emperor Decius in 251. Because she was a Christian, she was handed over to governor Cutianus. First she was delivered to another unfaithful woman, called Aphrodisia, in order to be moved from Christ's holy faith by her exhortations. But the saint kept on piety firmly and wished to suffer martyrdom rather than deny Christ. So, they beat her heavily and cut her breast which was restored to health by Apostle Peter who appeared to her in prison. Then they dragged her on bricks and burnt her badly with fire. Next, they put her in prison and, while she was there, she commended her soul to the hands of God.
Source
Lives of the Saints for the Whole Year by St. Nicodemus of the Holy Mountain (18th century) [1]
