In the first centuries after the coming of Jesus Christ, most Christians were ready at any moment to lay down their lives for faith in Him. Today, there are few such selfless and truly believers, since modern people are mainly carried away by a vain life and obtaining worldly goods. Saint Alla Gotfskaya became one of the brightest examples of courage and fortitude, who did not betray Christ and did not break before pagan enemies. However, in order to get closer to the topic: "Alla is the day of an angel", let's plunge a little into the history of those cruel times and feel what a great feat the early Christians went for.
Ancient Gotthia
All events took place in Gotthia around the 4th century. There was a time when this country maintained stable relations with the Roman Empire, and therefore there were no prohibitions for Christians regarding beliefs and worship. They quietly engaged in missionary work, built temples and monastic cloisters, but then all state power passed into the hands of Atanarih (according to another version - Ungeriche), who immediately hated Christians, sincewas an inveterate pagan. He declared a real hunt for them: the true adherents of the faith were caught and massively destroyed. Throughout the country, orders and death sentences were heard from this ruthless tyrant. With his ardent speeches, he sowed in the hearts of the pagans a terrible hatred for those who believe in Christ.
Worship or die
Before answering the question, when is Alla's name day, let's get acquainted with important information.
Closer to 375, it was already very dangerous for Christians to attend church services, and now they mostly prayed in secret, in their own homes. Once the most courageous Christians in the amount of 308 people decided not to hide and come to the Sunday service in the temple. At the beginning of the service, all people indulged in deep prayer to God so that he would send hope for the world to all Christian believers. Suddenly, a detachment of pagan soldiers drove up to the church, who brought the statue on a wagon. The wild voice of the leader of the soldiers shouted for everyone to leave the church, bow to the god Wotan and make a sacrifice. However, all the people in the church did not even move, then the doors slammed shut, everything around caught fire and began to collapse. No one heard any groans or cries, the church buried the bodies of 308 Christian martyrs under its burnt fragments. It is these woeful events that bring us to the theme of "Alla: Angel Day".
Holy Allah
Saint Alla, who was the widow of the Gotthian king Gratian (375-383), together with her daughter Duklida, after all the tragic events, came to the burntchurches to collect and peacefully bury the remains of the martyrs. Then Holy Alla transported some of them to Syria. When she returned home, she and her son Agathon were brutally stoned to death.
After some time, the daughter of the saint - Duklida moved the remains to Cyzicus (city of Asia Minor) to illuminate new temples. The great relics were placed at the foundations of the thrones and became a place of prayer and worship. Duklida lived a few more years after the death of her mother and died peacefully.
Another version
There is another version of the martyrdom of Saint Alla of Gotha, which indicates that instead of Alla there was the widow Gaata, and Saint Alla herself was burned in the church along with 308 martyrs.
However, the details no longer matter - almost two thousand years have passed. It surprises and delights how strong faith in Christ was both for Saint Alla and other martyrs, because for her sake they went to certain death. Without having true and firm faith in the Holy Spirit, this would not have been possible.
Allah: Angel Day
Out of 308 martyrs, 26 were known by name. The name of Saint Alla is included in the list of 26 martyrs of the Goths. According to the church calendar, the Orthodox Church celebrates Alla's Angel Day on March 26 (April 8).
Saint Alle pray that children are brought up in Christian piety. She became the patroness of social services that care for the seriously ill in hospices and hospitals. According to legend, not only Christians revere the holy Alla. Day of the angel of this selflessCrimeans also celebrate women - she is considered their intercessor.
