Q&A Home > S > St. Marina

I have a question regarding the executioner that beheaded St. Marina. By cutting off his neck, is he not accused of committing suicide, in spite of his accepting the faith in our Lord Jesus Christ?

The beloved story of St. Marina the Martyr ends with the Lord of Glory appearing to St. Marina surrounded by His Holy Angels prior to her execution. The Lord tells St. Marina, "Blessed are you Marina, My child. If anyone wants to repent, and asks your intercession, his sins will be forgiven. If any childless woman asks you to intercede on their behalf, she will bear children. And now, the angels carry your spirit to Paradise, but your body will remain on earth. It will be a blessing to all people." When those around St. Marina witnessed this, they all started to "believe in the God of Marina."

When the governor saw what was happening  to the crowds of people, who had witnessed the Glory of the Lord, he ordered the executioner to behead her. But the executioner did not want to proceed with his task and stated firmly "I can't do that and kill the blessed servant of the Lord Jesus Christ." The executioner ardently confessed his belief in the Lord. St. Marina begged him to carry out the order nonetheless and at her request only, he performed the task. So he killed her and then himself.

Due to his blatant and public confession of belief in the Lord Jesus Christ, the governor was going to take his life following the execution of St. Marina anyway. The executioner preferred to die beside St. Marina,by his own hand rather than that of the governor. Therefore, given the circumstances and the history of undisputed  execution of infinite numbers of Christian  occurring rampantly at that time, the possibility of suicide is completely overruled.

Another point to consider is the fact that the executioner was not yet instructed in the teachings of Christianity. Out of love to the Lord Jesus Christ he killed himself to be a martyr like St. Marina. So this definitely could not be considered suicide.

May the prayers and supplications of this great martyr St Marina be with us all.