This week in Christian history: 3 sisters martyred, Matthew Simpson becomes preacher

By Michael Gryboski, Mainline Church Editor Sunday, March 31, 2024

Three sisters martyred for their faith – April 3, 304

Agape, Irene, and Chionia, three devout Christian sisters who were martyred in AD 304 under the orders of Roman Emperor Diocletian. | Public Domain

This week marks the anniversary of when three devout Christian virgin sisters named Agape, Irene and Chionia, who lived in the Roman Empire, were martyred for their faith.

The children of pagan parents, the three sisters had converted to Christianity and sworn to remain virgins and were initially arrested on the charges of refusing to eat food offered to pagan gods.

“Chionia and Agape were condemned to be burned alive, but, because of her youth, Irene was to be imprisoned,” noted uCatholic.com. “Irene was sent to a soldiers’ brothel, where she was stripped and chained. There she was miraculously protected from molestation.”

“So, after again refusing a last chance to conform, she was sentenced to death. She died either by being forced to throw herself into flames or, more likely, by being shot in the throat with an arrow.”

The Roman Catholic Church honors the three sisters with a feast day on April 3, and in Eastern churches they're honored on April 16.