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226 226 ST SILVIA Hood of light on tlie state of Eastern Christendom before the fall of the Boman Empire." St. Silvia (2), Nov. 3, March 12. 6th century. She was of the great Boman family of the Anicii. Wife of Gordian, and mother of Pope (St.) Gregory the Great. AA.SS, St. Silvina, Nov. 9, M. at Antioch with St. Pollentia. Mart, of Beichenau, AA.SS. St. Simla, April 26, M. in Africa. AA,SS. St Simplicia (l), Nov. 1, M. at Tcrracina end of Ist century, with six women and seven men. AA,SS, St. Simplicia (2), M. with her daughter Orsa and another. Their sacred remains were found with a vase of blood, in the cemetery of St. Ciriacus in Home, early in the 19 th century. Diario di Bama, March 22, 1820. St Simplicia (3), April 12, V. M Body preserved in the monastery of San Ponzio at Nice. Ferrarius. Saussaye. AA.SS. St Simpliciola, Sept. 4, V. M. in Africa. Daughter of Galla (4). Greven. German Mart. St. Sincha or Skgnie, V. + 597. Colgan, AA.SS, Hibernise, says there were seven holy virgins of the name of Sincha, and that there was a church in Meath called TeagJi-Sinche, the house of Sincha. He conjectures that it was the same as Kill Ailbe in East Meath, where St. Abban is said to have established a nunnery and to have placed over it a virgin named Segnich : Lanigan calls this a loose and groundless conjecture. Cahier says St. Sincha is the same as Syneca. St. Sinclita or Sinclitica, V. Her name is in an ancient Anglican litany. Migne, Patrologiee Cursus Compleitts, vol. Ixxii., p. 620. St. Sindone. {See St. Veronica (1 ).) St. Sinevo, Sunniva. St. Sinney, Sunniva. St Sinnidia, April 3, M. at Tomis in Scythia. AA,SS, St. Sinoyslawa, Woyslawa. St Sira, May 18, M. 658. Repre- sented lying dead, surrounded by dogs. A native of Chircaseleucus in Mesopo- tamia. Daughter of a great magician, who would not allow her to associaie with her neighbours, because some of them held intercourse with the Chris- tians. He brought a woman to teach her from a distant place, where the doctrines of the Persians were held more strictly. Notwithstanding these pre- cautions, when Sira arrived at the age of eighteen, she was dissatisfied with the religion in which she had been brought up. She had no pleasure in the assem- blies of women of her class, and tried to make friends with those of lower rank but of greater virtue; and when she found that they were Christians, she questioned them eagerly and went se- cretly to their church to hear the scrip- tures read. She resolved not to be given in marriage, and gradually disfigured herself with fasting and vigils. Still she was too much i^raid of the Magi to confess her faith openly. She was seized with a dangerous illness. When neither medicine nor the fire and water of the heathen rites brought h6r relief, remem- bering the woman of Cana, who said that the dogs might eat of the crumbs from the children's table, she sent and asked one of the Christian priests to let her have some dust from the church, trusting that would suffice to heal her. He an- swered that she could not be partaker of the table of the Lord and of the table of devils. She seized hold of the priest's robe hastily as he passed her. She was healed immediately. Seeing such virtue in the mere garment of His ser- vant, she thought how great must be the power of the Lord Hunself, and what vast benefit she would derive from holy baptism. The devil made her believe that he was the God who had healed her, and immediately her disease returned; but on her repentance, she again re- covered. In consequence of several visions in which her own future sanctity was revealed, she applied to the bishop to baptize her. He required that she should first avow her conversion to her own family. While she wavered, she had a vision of an angel of God, striking her with a rod of iron and bidding her take courage and keep her promise. Next morning she was summoned by her step- mother to attend the Magian religiouB