Saint Domnina was a woman with two daughters named Verine (Saint John Chrysostom calls her Vernike, or Berenice) and Prosdoce. Leaving their home and family, they settled in Edessa on the plain of Mesopotamia.
Berenice’s father and her husband, who were pagans, took the women to Hieropolis in Syria. When the soldiers stopped to rest and eat, they became drunk with wine. Taking advantage of this opportunity, the women fled and were drowned in the river.
According to Saint John Chrysostom (PG 50, 629-640), Domnina stood in the middle of the river and pulled her daughters under the water with her, for she was afraid that the soldiers were going to rape them. Saint John praises Domnina for her courage, and Berenice and Prosdoce for their obedience.