Saints Markella and Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church

 

Markella learned the teachings and miracles and resurrection of Jesus Christ from her mother. When Markella was in her early teens and her mother was about to die, she had a basis from which to explain death and separation to her daughter. She died and Markella lived as a devout Christian for several years with a mentally imbalanced father, who in time desired to live with her as husband and wife. Markella's thought as she fled was to live honorably or to die. Enraged, her father burned her out of a thicket. When she ran along the rocks of the sea, he shot an arrow into her thigh. She continued to run, praying to the Panaghia and to Jesus. When she collapsed, a rock split open and held her body from the waist down.

Infuriated, the father pulled to remove her, and finally he cut off parts of her body and then cut off her head. The calm sea became wild and a holy spring came forth from between those rocks. Markella has appeared in dreams and visions and has responded to prayers for her intercessions for the healing of the paralyzed, the blind, to save children in battle. She is remembered by the Church on July 22.