Saint Marciana of Toledo

Saint Marciana of Toledo (died c. 303) is a venerated martyr in Toledo, Spain whose feast day is celebrated by both the Roman Catholic Church and the Eastern Orthodox Church on July 12.

Life
St. Marciana was born in Toledo, Spain, to a family of nobility. Nevertheless, she abhorred the worldly benefits of a high social status and she put aside her worldly riches. She decided to travel to Caesarea, Mauretania (modern-day Algeria) and lock herself in a cell within a cave in order to preserve her virginity (for she was said to be very beautiful) and consecrate herself to God through various exercises in fasts and other practices of self-deprivation that were used in lieu of martyrdom. Caesarea was by that time occupied by the Roman Empire under the Emperor Diocletian (284-305 A.D. ). While walking in the public square, Marciana noticed a statue to the Roman goddess Diana and in her religious zeal, she struck the statue's head off.

Following this prayer, a leopard was released into the amphitheater and mangled Marciana to death.