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The holy and glorious [[Martyr]] '''Zlata was born of poor peasant parents Meglen''' (who also had three other daughters''Chryse'' or ''Chryssi'' of ''Meglena'' or ''Meglin'') is remembered for defending her faith as a Christian. Her [[feast day]] is celebrated on [[October 13]]. Zlata was born in the eighteenth century in the village of Slatina, in the province of Meglen, to a poor, peasant family with three other daughters. She was a meek and devout girl, wise in the wisdom of [[Christ ]] and golden, not only in both name but also in her ("Chryse") and God-fearing heart.  Once when Zlata went out to get water, some shameless Turks seized her and took her to their home. When one of them urged her to become a Moslem [[Muslim]] and be his wife, Zlata fearlessly replied: ``"I believe in Christ , and Him alone do I know as my [[Bridegroom]]. I will never deny Him, even though you subject me to a thousand tortures and cut me into pieces.'' " When her parents and sisters found her, her parents said to her: ``"O daughter, have mercy on yourself and on us, your parents and sisters; deny Christ in words only, so that we can all be happy, for Christ is merciful. He would forgive such a sin, committed due to the necessities of life.'' " Her poor parents, sisters , and relatives wept bitterly. However, the noble soul of St. Zlata resisted such diabolical snares. She answered them: ``"When you counsel me to deny Christ the true God, you are no longer my parents or my sisters. I have the Lord Jesus Christ as my father, the [[Theotokos ]] as my mother, and the saints [[saint]]s as my brothers and sisters.'' "  The Turks then cast her into prison for three months, flogging her every day until her blood soaked the ground. Finally, they suspended her upside down and lit a fire, to suffocate her with the smoke; but God was with Zlata, and gave her strength in suffering. At last they hanged her from a tree and cut her into small pieces. Thus, this brave virgin gave her soul up to God, and went to dwell in Paradise [[on October 13]] , 1796. Pieces of her [[relics ]] were taken by Christians to their homes for a blessing. ==External links==*[http://ocafs.oca.org/FeastSaintsViewer.asp?SID=4&ID=1&FSID=102961 New Martyr Chryse (Zlata) of Meglena, Bulgaria] ([[OCA]])*[http://www.westsrbdio.org/prolog/my.html?month=October&day=13 The Holy Great-martyr Zlata of Meglin] (''[[Prologue of Ohrid]]'')