Saint Alexandra April 21 St. Alexandra was the wife of the Roman Emperor Diocletian (A.D. 282-304). She was beloved by the people of Rome, and often toured the countryside. On one tour, her attention was drawn to the plight of a former Roman soldier, St. George. She was told that he was being punished for his faith in Jesus Christ, refusing to worship the Roman gods. She sought out St. George in the dungeon, and found him in a cell, beaten and bloodied, a victim of Roman torture. He spoke to her with a calm assurance, dismissing his wounds as a small price to pay for the love of Christ. After talking to St. George, St. Alexandra renounced the pagan gods and joyfully accepted Christ as her Savior. St. Alexandra then went to her husband, Diocletian, with her new revelation and to plea for the release of St. George. He dismissed her, but she persisted. At length, her pleadings aggravated the emperor and he had her imprisoned, to be beheaded along with St. George. Diocletian was credited with the slaughter of many early christians, including St. George. The night before St. Alexandra was to be put to death at the order of her husband, she secretly told her servants that she had a premonition that would die peacefully before dawn. They found out the next morning that Alexandra had died in her sleep. The servants rebuked and scolded the emperor for his cruelty, and were put to death as well. St. George was beheaded two days later. St. Alexandra traded in the comfort of her throne for the wretchedness of a dungeon, all for the sake of Jesus Christ, becoming one of the great Christian martyrs. Close Window