Life
Saint Photina the Samaritan Woman holds a singular place in Christian tradition as the one who responded to the Lord Jesus Christ with sincere seeking after truth, and who then fearlessly proclaimed that truth until her martyrdom.
The Gospel of John (chapter 4) records the encounter that took place at Jacob’s Well in Samaria: Jesus Christ, wearied from the road, sits beside the well and enters into conversation with her. The woman had come to draw water at noon — at the hour when others do not walk about, for her past life had been such that she avoided meeting her townspeople. Christ reveals to her that He knows her entire history — that she has had five husbands and that the man with whom she now lives is not her husband — but He does so not with condemnation, rather with compassion. She, astonished, asks: “How is it that thou knowest all that I have done?” And He answers her that He is the Messiah.
Photina then leaves her water jar and runs into the city to call the people: “Come, see a Man who told me all things that ever I did: is not this the Christ?” By this proclamation she becomes, in the interpretation of the Fathers, an apostle before the apostles — the first to carry testimony to Christ’s messiahship.
The tradition of the Church continues the story far beyond the Gospel account. After the Resurrection of Christ and the Descent of the Holy Spirit, Photina set out with two sisters — Anastasia and Photo — and her sons to preach the Gospel. Christian tradition holds that she reached Rome itself, where she continued her missionary work, bearing witness to Christ before common people and the nobles of the imperial court alike. She is recorded as having witnessed even before courtiers of Emperor Nero.
For her fearless confession of faith, Photina and her companions were arrested. They were subjected to various torments — among the most severe recorded in hagiographic literature — and endured them all with a strange peace and trust. They were finally cast into a well — which tradition understood as a symbolic completion of the circle that began with the conversation at Jacob’s Well. There they received the martyr’s crown, probably during the reign of Nero, around 66.
The Church has given her the title “Equal-to-the-Apostles” because her apostolic zeal and fruitfulness in preaching surpassed what was expected of women of that age, and indeed of many who bore the official apostolic title. Her feast is celebrated on March 20 by the Julian calendar, and the memory of her sons and sisters — who suffered martyrdom with her — is honored on the same day.
Tropar (Tone 8)
At the well, O Lord, the Samaritan woman sought water; but Thou didst offer Thyself as the source of immortality. Photina, Equal-to-the-Apostles, illumined by the Gospel, preached Christ even to Rome and laid down her head for Him. Beseech Him to save our souls.
Kontakion (Tone 7)
Having accepted faith from the source of immortality, O Equal-to-the-Apostles Photina, thou didst leave behind the thirst of worldly sins. Having received living water from Christ, thou didst pour it out inexhaustibly upon those who love Christ. Glory to Him Who enlightened thee.