Saint Thomais of Alexandria

Thomaïs of Alexandria, or Saint Thomaïs (born in Alexandria, Egypt; died there in 476), was a Christian, a martyr for purity, and a saint in the Catholic and Orthodox Churches. The first mentions of Thomaïs appear in Byzantine synaxaria. At the age of 18, she married a fisherman. She died at the hands of her father-in-law, who had become consumed by lust for her. She was pierced with a sword while firmly defending her purity. Following the incident, her father-in-law reportedly went blind, confessed to the crime, and was himself executed by beheading. Thomaïs was buried in the cemetery of the holy monks, and her relics were later moved to Constantinople. Thomaïs was included in Byzantine synaxaria for her glorious martyrdom. Her liturgical memorial in the Catholic Church was observed on April 14, according to the Roman Martyrology. Oil lamps lit at her grave were used as a remedy against temptations of the flesh.