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Lucy means light. Saint Lucy, also known as Saint Lucia or Saint Lukia is the patron saint of the blind. Born to rich and noble parents in Syracuse, Sicily, in the year 283 AD she lost her Roman father in infancy. She was raised by her Greek mother, Eutychia, who instilled in her the sense of sharing with the poor. 1 Lucy grew up to be a devout Christian woman. She consecrated her virginity to God and devoted herself to the service of the poor. Her life corresponded to a period in history when Christians were persecuted. Emperor Diocletian orchestrated Great (Diocletianic) persecution, which was the last and most severe persecution of Christians in the Roman Empire. Considerable pain, suffering, torture and death were inflicted on Christians, for their faith, during Diocletian's reign. 2 A disappointed pagan suitor for Lucy notified the Emperor of her devout Christian beliefs and it was ruled that she was to be condemned to suffer the shame of prostitution. Legend describes that miraculously when being escorted by his guards she stood immovable, stiff and heavy as a mountain by the strength of God and could not be taken to the brothel. Bundles of wood were heaped around her and set alight but yet again she was saved by the grace of God. She eventually met her death in the year 304 AD by the sword at the age of 21.