Saint Christina, popularly known as Saint Christina of Tyre or Saint Christina of Bolsena, lived during the third century. During the third century, paganism was widely practiced. Christina's family were staunch believers of paganism. They did not believe in any religion or in the existence of God but worshiped idols. The name Christina means 'Little Christ' or 'Follower of Christ.' Her icons show her holding the cross in her right hand. Martyrs holding a cross signifies their willingness to sacrifice their lives for Christ. There are many stories and accounts regarding the life of Saint Christina. However, the early life of Saint Christina is more or less the same in all the texts. Not much is known about the early life of Saint Christina. There is no mention about her mother or her siblings. Her whole life is centered on her father, Urbain, the Governor of Tyre, and his two successors, Dion and Julian, all of whom persistently persecuted her. Born into an affluent family, Christina was a very beautiful girl. Because of her exceptional beauty, many men wanted to marry her when she was barely eleven. She had immense faith in Christ and wanted to follow the teachings of Christ. But her father Urbain was against the practices of Christianity, and wanted her to become a pagan priestess and worship idols. Hence, he locked her in a room, assuming that the confines of the room would curb her interest in Christianity. The room consisted of gold and silver idols, and she was instructed to burn incense before the idols. The confines of the room did not keep her from appreciating the beauty of nature that was God's creation. She yearned to understand Him and pined for more knowledge regarding the presence of God. It is believed that God revealed Himself to her through an angel. Christina was tired of the luxury that was bestowed on her. She was greatly moved by the poverty and sufferings of people around her, and wanted to help and support them. She broke all the gold and silver pagan idols belonging to her father and gave them to the poor and the needy. This incident infuriated her father who punished her cruelly. This was the beginning of her trials and tribulations. ➞ Christina confessed to her father, Urbain, about her faith in God, and that she has smashed the pagan idols. ➞ He was so furious when he came to know about the incident that he ordered all the servants attending his daughter to be killed. ➞ Considering it to be a heinous crime, her father punished her by whipping her with rods and threw her into a dungeon. But even in the prison Christina held on to her incredible faith in Christ. ➞ Her father asked her to glorify and worship the pagan gods, and ask forgiveness for her crime. But her belief and faith in Christ remained unshaken. ➞ This angered her father so much that he tied her to an iron wheel, beneath which a fire was lit. Christina's faith in God saved her. He turned the flames on the bystanders. She was again thrown back into the cell. That night an angel appeared before her and healed all her scars. ➞ In another incident, a stone was tied around her neck, and she was thrown into the lake of Bolsena. However, God's angel saved her again. Her father died after this incident. ➞ After Urbain's death, his successor Dion continued with the persecutions on Christina. ➞ Dion ordered Christina to give up her faith in Christ. But her determination and faith was so strong that she never gave up. ➞ Dion tortured her and threw her into a cell assuming that she would succumb to the pain. She remained there for many days. Many people came to her to learn about God and convert to the Christian faith. Like Urbain, Dion too suffered an unexpected death. ➞ Julian was her last persecutor. He threw her into a burning furnace. She remained in the furnace unhurt for five days. It was indeed a miracle. ➞ In another incident, Saint Christina was thrown into a cage of serpents. But Christ saved her once again. All were surprised on seeing the miracle, that they started believing in the existence of God. ➞ Fuming with anger, Julian, the tormentor, cut off her tongue and breasts. He was blinded while torturing Saint Christina. She threw her tongue on his face, which blinded him. ➞ After enduring many similar tortures she was struck with arrows and finally beheaded. Saint Christina attained her martyr's crown at the city of Tyre. She was baptized by her own blood. Many people from the city of Tyre were inspired to follow her faith. They were inspired by her unshakable firmness, dedication, boldness, and the fact that she gave up her life for Christ. Saint Christina suffered excruciating agony throughout her life. She was scourged, tortured, and martyred for her faith in Christ. Her relics rest at Palermo in Sicily. The Patron Saint of Insanity, Archers and Millers, this Christian martyr is revered across the globe. Her feast day is celebrated on the 24th of July every year.