Lucia of Syracuse

St. Lucy (283–304), as she is commonly known, was a Christian martyr who died during the Diocletianic Persecution, which was the last and most severe persecution of Christians in the Roman Empire under Emperor Diocletian. The name Lucia comes from the Latin word Lux (Light). It is the feminine form of the Roman name Lucius.

The oldest record of her story comes from the fifth-century Acts of the Martyrs. The Story is that after her Roman wealthy father died, her sick, Greek mother found a rich pagan suitor to marry her. However, Lucia had devoted her virginity to God and said she would give the dowry to the poor. Her suitor turned her in for being a Christian and she was executed by the sword. Some versions have her eyes gauged out either as torture or self-inflicted so that suitors would not want her and she could devote her life to God. These are later stories, but because of them and her name meaning light she is the patron saint of the blind. Also, because of her name, it was decided to have her feast day around the darkest day of the year.