Tryphaena of Cyzicus was a 1st-century Christian martyr living in the Roman Empire. Born to noble parents, Anastasius and Socratia, she was named after a former Thracian queen. Because she rejected the traditional Roman religion in favor of following Jesus, the local governor, Caesarius, ordered her death. Despite several attempts to kill her, including being placed in a hot oven and thrown toward spears, she survived these initial ordeals, eventually dying after being attacked by a bull.
Life and martyrdom
Raised in the ancient Greek city of Cyzicus, located in present-day Turkey, Tryphaena was the daughter of Roman aristocrats. Her refusal to participate in pagan worship was viewed as an affront to the state. Following her refusal to renounce her faith, she faced multiple executions. After surviving being thrown from a tree toward spears and being placed in a red-hot oven, she was ultimately killed by a mad bull.
Veneration
As a martyr, she is honored as the patroness of Cyzicus. Her memory is preserved through various Christian traditions, including the Roman Catholic and Orthodox churches. She is commemorated as a saint, with her feast day observed on January 31 in both the Catholic and Orthodox calendars.