Saint Daria is a celebrated early Christian martyr, traditionally honored in the Orthodox and Catholic traditions on March 19th, alongside her husband, Saint Chrysanthus.
According to ancient tradition, Chrysanthus was a well-educated young man from a pagan noble family who converted to Christianity. His father, attempting to distract him from his new faith, introduced him to Daria, a vestal virgin or high priestess of a pagan temple (sources vary, but she is generally described as a high-status pagan woman). Far from turning Chrysanthus away from Christ, Daria was herself converted by his teaching.
The two then decided to enter into a chaste marriage, living as brother and sister and dedicating their lives to prayer and missionary work. Their efforts to convert large numbers of people to Christianity drew the attention of the Roman authorities during the persecutions of Emperor Numerian. Unwilling to renounce their faith and sacrifice to the pagan gods, they were both subjected to horrific tortures. Miracles often intervened; for example, a lion is said to have appeared in the colosseum to protect Daria. Eventually, they were taken outside the city walls and martyred by being buried alive together in a deep pit with sand and stones. A church was later built on the site of their martyrdom.
