Born in Tarsus, of pagan, wealthy parents. Hearing about the salvation of her soul, love for Christ was kindled in her. It was a time of terrible persecution of Christians under Emperor Diocletian. Once the emperor came to Tarsus, and his son fell mortally in love with Pelagia. But she fled and found Bishop Klinon, who baptized her. Then he distributed his wealth, went home and told his mother that she had been baptized. Hearing this, the prince stabbed himself with a knife. And the evil mother accused her daughter to the emperor, who, seeing Pelagia's beauty, himself was inflamed with an impure passion for her. The holy virgin rejected him, and he ordered her to be burned. When they stripped her naked, she herself, having crossed herself, entered a red-hot ox and melted as if she were made of wax. She suffered for Christ in the year 287.

Hieromartyr Silouan, Bishop of Gasca. Venerable Nicephorus.