Saint Poplia, Deaconess and Confessor

Saint Poplia of Antioch

Today in the Orthodox Church we commemorate Saint Poplia of Antioch, who was a deaconess in the Church during the fourth century. She suffered persecution along with several other women of Antioch during the reign of Julian the Apostate.

Saint Poplia [Gk. Ποπλία, L. Publia, Ar. Bûbliyâ بوبليا] was a woman raised in a Christian household. In her youth she took a young man in marriage, and bore a son for him, whom they named Yaḥyâ, or John. She must have loved both her husband and her son very dearly, because Yaḥyâ himself grew up in virtue and observance. He was ordained a priest, and despite his objections, was elevated to the honour of the bishopric. However, her husband died when she was still fairly young. She dedicated herself to chastity, and was given the honour of being a deaconess in the Church.

During Julian’s infamous stay in Antioch, on his way to declare war on Persia, he passed by Poplia’s house, he overheard her and the sworn virgins who lived in her house, reciting Psalm 134. Thinking that this was an insult directly at him, Julian arrested them. Despite Poplia being an old woman, Julian ordered her to be beaten ruthlessly. Julian’s campaign into the East was to go forward without delay, however, and this provided Saint Poplia a stay of execution. Shortly afterward, however, Saint Poplia died – perhaps as a result of the beating she took. This is the account of her life which Blessed Theodoret of Kyrrhos left us:

I will now include in my history the noble story of a right excellent woman, for even women, armed with divine zeal, despised the mad fury of Julian.

In those days there was a woman named Publia, of high reputation, and illustrious for deeds of virtue. For a short time she wore the yoke of marriage, and had offered its most goodly fruit to God, for from this fair soil sprang John, who for a long time was chief presbyter at Antioch, and was often elected to the apostolic see, but from time to time declined the dignity. She maintained a company of virgins vowed to virginity for life, and spent her time in praising God who had made and saved her.

One day the emperor was passing by, and as they esteemed the Destroyer an object of contempt and derision, they struck up all the louder music, chiefly chanting those psalms which mock the helplessness of idols, and saying in the words of David ‘The idols of the nations are of silver and gold, the work of men’s hands,’ and after describing their insensibility, they added ‘like them be they that make them and all those that trust in them.’ Julian heard them, and was very angry, and told them to hold their peace while he was passing by. She did not however pay the least attention to his orders, but put still greater energy into their chant, and when the emperor passed by again told them to strike up ‘Let God arise and let his enemies be scattered.’

On this Julian in wrath ordered the choir mistress to be brought before him; and, though he saw that respect was due to her old age, he neither compassionated her gray hairs, nor respected her high character, but told some of his escort to box both her ears, and by their violence to make her cheeks red. She however took the outrage for honour, and returned home, where, as was her wont, she kept up her attack upon him with her spiritual songs, just as the composer and teacher of the song laid the wicked spirit that vexed Saul.

To this day this righteous deaconess is honoured as a confessor of the Antiochian Church. Holy confessor and deaconess Poplia, fearless opponent of the pagan, pray unto Christ our God that our souls may be saved!