Saint Euphrosyne of Alexandria was born on 410 AD, Alexandria, Egypt. She disguised herself to live as monk under the name Smaragdus and succeeded to do so for 38 years as she was excellent in her work. She died in the year 470 AD, Alexandria, Egypt. Her feast day is celebrated on 25 September by the Greek Orthodox Church and January 16by the Roman Catholic Church.
Saint Euphrosyne of Alexandria Biography | |
---|---|
Date of Birth | 410 A.D |
Country of Birth | Egypt of Africa |
Profession | Monk |
Place of Work | France |
Date of Death | 470 A.D |
Place of Death | N\A |
Feast Day |
September 25 (Greek Orthodox) January 16 (Roman Catholic Church) |
Beatification | Beatified by Pre congregation |
Canonization | Canonized by Pre congregation |
Patron Saint of | N/A |
St. Euphrosyne of Alexandria’s Life History
Euphrosyne was born in the year 410 AD to a rich family in Alexandria, Kemetia(now known as Egypt). She was baptized at the age of 7. Her father, Paphnutius was a devout christian and her mother, whose name is unknown, passed away when she was 12. At the age of 18, a suitor was chosen for her; the most noble and wealthy of the of the suitors, to marry her and so meeting to the monastery was due for blessing for her marriage. The visit to the monastery inspired her otherwise to want to live a monastic life and so on her wedding day she did the unthinkable; she cut her hair short, dressed as a man and in secrecy, fled to the monastery to worship God in prayer and penance.
In the monastery, she took the name Smaragdus and lived as a monk for 38 years. As Smaragdus she impressed the abbot there with her strides and efforts to live and attain perfect ascetic life. She loved intense solitude whereby she would pray in a solitary cell in the desert and this was also to reduce the effect of temptation she posed to ‘fellow male’ monks in the monastery. She was once assigned to be her father’s spiritual advisor to console him on the loss of his daughter but never revealed her/’his’ identity as she had perfectly disguised herself as an Ethopian Eunuch and had covered herself with a veil.
In the last year before her death, she came out and revealed her secret to her father and they reconciled. She died in the year 470 AD. Her father, after her passing, donated his wealth to the poor and the monastery she had been in and also joined it to live as a monk in his daughter’s cell for ten years till his passing. He was buried beside her daughter.
St. Euphrosyne of Alexandria’s Birth
St. Euphrosyne of Alexandria’s Death
She died in the year 470 AD while still working in the monastery she was assigned to. After her passing, her father joined the monastery to live as a monk, after donating all his wealth to the poor and to the monastery, till his passing ten years later,
St. Euphrosyne of Alexandria’s Family Background
Euphrosyne’s father’s name was Paphnutius, a wealthy devout christian. Her mother’s name is still unknown to us but it is said the she passed away when she was 12 years old.
St. Euphrosyne of Alexandria’s Canonization
St Euphrosyne of Alexandria was canonized pre-congregation.
Venerated in
She is venerated in the Greek Orthodox Church and in the Roman Catholic Church.
St. Euphrosyne of Alexandria’s Feast Day
In the Greek Orthodox Church, she is celebrated every September 25 and in the Roman Catholic Church, she is celebrated every January 16.
Follow @ReadingCatholic