Matrona of Chios

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Saint Matrona of Chios was born in Volissos on the island of Chios, in the 14th–15th century, to Leon and Anna and was the youngest of seven children. From a young age she wanted to live as a nun, but her parents arranged a marriage for her. She fled to a women’s monastery at Katavasis above Volissos, but eventually returned home after her parents found her. After her parents died, she gave much of her inheritance to the poor and used the rest to build a monastery in the Palaiokastro area of Chios, where she took the name Matrona.

Matrona’s devotion drew other girls to join, and she helped enlarge the monastery’s church and build cells for the nuns. She sold remaining land and belongings to fund a public bath for the poor and travelers, a common aid at the time. When the rebuilt church was finished (dedicated to St. Artemios), the abbess died and Matrona was elected the new abbess. She was known for charity, healing, and holiness, and people came to her for help.

Before her death, Matrona foretold her passing. She fell ill for seven days, during which she advised the other nuns as a mother would her children. She died sometime before 1455 and was buried in the monastery church where she had lived. After her death, many people were believed to have been healed at the church.

A church was later built at Katavasis to honor the place where she began her spiritual struggle. In 1470, the noble Roidis built the Holy Monastery of St. Matrona near Mesa Didima, reportedly prompted by a dream in which Matrona instructed him to build a monastery. His sisters were among the first nuns there. During the Turkish occupation, the abbot Nikephoros of Chios led the monastery and wrote 24 Hymns to Agia Matrona. Today, four nuns still live at the monastery, and its feast is celebrated on October 20 each year. The finding of her head is commemorated on July 15.