February 18 is a Christian holiday, the day of memory of the holy martyr Agafia (Agates). This girl endured a lot of suffering for her faith during the persecution of Christians, for which she is rightly called a holy martyr. Born into a wealthy and famous family in the city of Panormo (now Palermo), she was extremely perceptive and very clearly able to distinguish true from evil.

During the persecution of Christians, a local pagan senator ordered his soldiers to bring Agafia to him and tried to attract her to paganism by dishonest means, but Agafia refused. “It is easier to soften a stone and melt iron than to convince this girl,” they said about her. For disobedience, she was sentenced to cruel torture, but later, after all the torments endured, the apostle Peter appeared to Agafia and healed all her wounds. Seeing the healing of Agafia, the enraged senator ordered to continue the torture. On the same day, a great earthquake occurred in the city, and the frightened inhabitants began to demand an end to the abuse of Agafia. After severe torture, Agafia was taken to prison, where she died peacefully.

A year after the death of Agafia, the volcano Etna woke up and began to spew a great flame and molten lava. The frightened inhabitants of the city saw imminent death and rushed to the grave of Agafia, took her clothes from the coffin to protect themselves from the fire, and the eruption of the volcano stopped. Therefore St. Agafia is also considered a protector against fire.

The life of this martyr is a vivid example of steadfast faith in God, which gives us the strength to patiently endure all the sufferings and adversities of life without losing heart.