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[[Image:St Drosis Saco - 2009.JPG|right|thumb|250px|St. Drosis, the daughter of the Roman Emperor Trajan]]
St. '''Drosis''', the daughter of the Roman Emperor Trajan is commemorated on [[March 22]].
According to Orthodox Christian ecclesiastical traditions St. Drosis was the daughter of the Emperor Trajan (98-117 AD). In 99 AD Trajan revived a decree prohibiting secret gatherings which was in truth a ruse to prohibit Christian rituals. In 104, a special law was issued against those who believed in Christ and who denied obedience to imperial idols.
Many Christians were [[martyr]]ed for disobeying this law. As a visible deterrent for other Christians these martyrs were kept unburied. Five nuns[[nun]]s, Aglaida, Apolliniaria, Daria, Mamthusa and Thais, assumed the task of burying these holy persons. They secretly gathered their bodies, anointed them with spices, wrapped them in shrouds, and buried them in their nunnery. When Drosis learned about the nuns she secretly left the palace to assist them in collecting the martyred Christians.
Adrian, one of Trajan’s advisors, was engaged to Drosis. In order to advance himself Adrian obtained Trajan’s permission to set guard over those who had been killed and arrest anyone who tried to bury them. St. Drosis and the five nuns were eventually apprehended.
In her seclusion St. Drosis prayed for her release. Her prayers were heard. While the guards fell asleep, St. Drosis, dressed in her royal attire left the palace and heading to the ovens. Since St. Drosis was not yet [[baptism|baptized]] she wondered, “How can I go to God without a wedding garment that is without being baptized for I am impure. But, O King of Kings, Lord Jesus Christ, for Your sake I give up my imperial position, so that you can make me gatekeeper of Your Kingdom. Baptize me Yourself with your Holy Spirit.”
After praying in this manner, St. Drosis anointed herself with [[chrism]] she had taken along with her and after immersing herself in water three times, she said: “the servant of God Drosis is baptized in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.” For seven days the [[saint ]] hid, fasting and praying. Christians found her and she told them her story. On the eighth day, the holy Martyr Drosis went to the scorching ovens and cast herself into the fire.
==References==
[[Category:Saints]]
[[Category:Ante-Nicene Saints]]
[[Category:Martyrs]]
[[Category:2nd-century saints]]
[[ro:Drosida din Antiohia]]