17 September (7 Thout) 303-305 A.D.
St. Rebecca was a widower who brought up her children in the fear of God. She lived in a village near Luxor, in Upper Egypt. When they heard that Emperor Diocletian had ordered the persecution of the Christians and the closure of the churches, they stood up all night in prayers.
They entreated the Lord Christ to have mercy on His people and to lift up all evil away from them. While they were praying the Angel of the Lord appeared to them to announce that they will receive the crown of martyrdom in the name of the Lord Christ. The saints rejoiced at this vision, and they rose up early and gave up all their possessions to the poor and released all their servants.
St. Rebecca strengthened her children to withstand torture and suffering for the sake of the Kingdom of Heaven.
Her older son, Agathon stood before the governor rebuking him for abandoning the True Faith and worshiping idols instead. As a result, the governor ordered that he and his family be arrested and tortured.
Refusing the imperial edict to worship idols and deny Christ, they all cried in one voice: “We believe in Jesus Christ our Lord and God.”
St. Rebecca witnessed each of her children being tortured and killed, the youngest of which was slaughtered while on her knees; finally, she was likewise beheaded.
Today, their bodies lie in the Church dedicated to St. Rebecca and her children in Sonbat in Egypt. God has manifested from their relics by many signs and wonders.
A hymn on their behalf declares: “Thy martyrs, O Lord, in their courageous contest for Thee received the crowns of incorruption and life from Thee, our Immortal God. O Christ God, by their prayers, save our souls, since Thou art merciful.”
In this icon, St. Rebecca is depicted with her five children wearing and carrying crosses as a sign of victory over sin, devil and death and their inheritance of the Eternal Life through our Lord Jesus Christ.
