The name Alla is displayed in the Orthodox church calendar. Therefore, it is quite acceptable to call girls at baptism with this holy name in memory of the great ascetic of piety - the martyr Alla of Gotf.
All Orthodox Alla celebrate their name day on the same day: namely, on the date of the great twelveth feast of the Annunciation of the Most Holy Theotokos, which falls on the next day of the celebration - on April 8th. This date is not accidental, because it is on this day that the Church remembers the life and feat of the holy martyr Alla of Gotf.
The very name of Saint Gotthian indicates the place of life of the ascetic. The disciple of God lived in the ancient Gotha country in the fourth century after the Incarnation. The life of the holy martyr has been preserved to this day in a brief form. Thus, it is known that the saint suffered at the end of the 4th century (approximately in 375) during the reign of King Ungerich in Gothia.
Saint Alla lived a strict ascetic life. Despite the hostility of the authorities towards Christians, she openly attended church services, raising her prayers to God. By her personal example, she was an example of Christian virtue and humility, which prompted many around to accept the gospel faith. Such a pious life of Christians could not suit the king. The ruler decided to burn down the temple in which several hundred Christians were praying.
Of the three hundred and eight people who were burnt alive, the names of only twenty-six martyrs have survived to this day, including Saint Alla.
There is another version of the suffering of the martyr, set forth by Metropolitan Demetrius of Rostov in his "Lives of the Saints". In the book, the archpastor writes that Alla was one of those who collected the remains of the martyrs. For such a pious attitude towards the relics of the saints, Alla, according to Metropolitan Demetrius, was stoned to death.
