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Alla GotfskayaQueen of the Gothic, revered in Orthodoxy as a martyr
Date of Birth: .
Country:  Dive |
Content:
- Saint Alla: A Gothic Martyr Venerated in Orthodoxy
- Martyrdom Under Athanaric
- Persecution and Execution
- The Burning Church
- Collection and Enshrinement of Relics
- Translation to Cyzicus
- Varied Accounts
Saint Alla: A Gothic Martyr Venerated in Orthodoxy
Saint Alla, a Gothic queen, is revered as a martyr in Orthodox Christianity. Her memory is commemorated on March 26 (April 8) according to the Julian calendar.
Martyrdom Under Athanaric
Alla was among the 26 martyrs who were killed by the Goths around 375 AD during the reign of Athanaric, a persecutor of Christians. Ancient synaxaries of the Gothic Church record the martyrdom of 26 Christians during the time of Emperors Valentinian, Valens, and Gratian.
Persecution and Execution
According to the historian Sozomen in his "Ecclesiastical History," King Athanaric was enraged by the mass conversion of his subjects to Christianity under the influence of the Arian bishop Wulfila. Upon his orders, many were tortured and executed, often without trial.
The Burning Church
Athanaric set up a statue on a chariot and would parade it before the Christian tents used for worship. Those who agreed to bow to the idols and offer sacrifices were spared. The others were burned alive inside the church during a service.
Collection and Enshrinement of Relics
In the reign of Emperors Valentinian (383-392) and Theodosius (378-395), Gaatha, the widow of a Gothic king (who was an Orthodox Christian), and her daughter Duklida gathered the relics of the holy martyrs and transported them to Syria. Gaatha later returned to her homeland, where she was stoned to death, along with her son Agaphon.
Translation to Cyzicus
Duklida later translated the relics of the holy martyrs to the city of Cyzicus in Asia Minor and deposited them in newly built churches. The Gothic calendar commemorated Saint Alla on October 23.
Varied Accounts
In the account by Demetrius of Rostov, Saint Alla was not among those burned but instead collected the relics after Gaatha and was stoned to death.
