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St. The holy and glorious [[Martyr]] '''Matrona of Thessalonica'' ' died for her faith during either the third or fourth century. She is commemorated by the church [[March 27]].

St . Matrona was the servant of a Jewish woman named Pantilla, the wife of the Governor governor of [[Thessalonica]]. When Matrona refused to follow her mistress into the [[synagogue]], Pantilla beat her so severly severely that she died a few days later, and thus received the crown of her confession. <ref> [http://home.iprimus.com.au/xenos/matrona.html St Matrona of Thessalonica] from the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia website. ([[GOAA]])</ref>

According to archaeological evidence and various written sources, the [[monastery]] of St. Matrona is one of the first three monasteries of Thessaloniki. According to the information historians have, until the beginning of [[iconoclasm]] (726), there is reference to a "monastery of Saint Matrona, located outside the walls of Thesssaloniki, with strong fortification. It existed about the end of the sixth and the beginning of the seventh century."<ref>[http://www.ems.name/makedonika%2034/harizanis.pdf Summary of ''The Beginning of Monasticism in Thessaloniki'' (PDF)] by G. Harizanis</ref> The book of the Miracles of Saint Demetrius mentions a [[church ]] dedicated to Saint St. Matrona (. This church, which was near the Via Egnatia, is also mentioned by the [[Archbishop ]] of Thessaloniki, Alexander.) In the account of the saint’s [[saint]]'s deeds we read: “Άθλησις "Άθλησις της Αγίας Μάρτυρος Ματρώνης εκ πόλεως Θεσσαλονίκης. Αυτή θεράπαινα υπήρξε Παντίλλης τινός Ιουδαίας, γυναικός στρατοπεδάρχου εν τη Θεσσαλονικέων πόλει”πόλει, " which translates to: "Miracle of the Holy Martyr Matrona of Thessaloniki. She cured a Jewess named Pantilla, the wife of a garrison commander in the city of the Thessalonians." <ref> Tafrali, O., ''Topographie de Thessalonique'', Paris 1913, p. 184. </ref>.

===[[Kontakion]] in the Fourth ([[Tone===]] 4) [http://home.iprimus.com.au/xenos/matrona.html]:O Lord Jesus, unto You Your lamb cries with a great voice, "O my Bridegroom, You I love; and seaking seeking You, I now contest, and with Your baptism I am crucified and buried. I suffer for Your sake, that I may reign with You; for Your sake I die, that I may live in /you. Accept me, offered out of longing to You as a splotless spotless sacrifice.". Lord, save our souls through her intercessions, since You are great in mercy.