(ABOUT A.D. 470.)
[Roman Martyrology on Jan. 1st, but anciently on Feb. 11th; with
great solemnity by the Greeks on September 25th. She is sometimes
erroneously called Euphrosia or Euphrasia by martyrologists. The
life of S. Euphrosyne is found inserted in the _Vitæ Patrum_.
The authors of some of these lives are known, as S. Ephrem, S.
Jerome, Sophronius of Jerusalem, Paulus Diaconus, but it is not
known by whom the life of S. Euphrosyne was written. In gravity and
purity of style it is not behind any of the others. That after her
death a Greek life was written, which was translated into Latin,
seems probable, from the extension of her cultus in the ancient
Latin Church. Her life exists in an ancient Greek ode, and in a
Latin heroic poem; another life is given by Simeon Metaphrastes, in
all particulars of importance agreeing with that in the Lives of the
Fathers, but without its freshness and ring of antiquity.]
The history of S. Euphrosyne, as given in the "Lives of the Fathers of
the Desert," written, apparently, shortly after her death, is told so
simply and beautifully by the ancient historian, that it shall be
given here, somewhat abbreviated, but otherwise literally translated.
There was a man of Alexandria named Paphnutius, honourable, and
observing the commandments of God. He married a wife worthy of his
race, and of honest manners, but she was barren. Thereat the man was
troubled much and sorrowful, likewise his wife was sore afflicted,
seeing the distress of her husband. And after some time he told a
certain abbot his desire; and he, compassionating him, besought the
Lord to give him a child. Then God heard the prayers of these twain,
and gave to Paphnutius a daughter. After that, Paphnutius brought his
wife to the monastery, that she should be blessed by the abbot and the
brethren. And when the little girl was seven years old, she was
baptized, and called Euphrosyne, and her parents rejoiced over her,
because they had received her of the Lord, and she was comely of face.
Now when she was twelve years old, her mother died, and she lived with
her father, who taught her her letters, and to read, and all the rest
of the world's knowledge. The good report of her spread through the
town, for she was wise in knowledge, and very comely, and composed in
face and spirit. Thus many desired to mate her with their sons, and
tried to come to terms with the father, but could not gain their
point; for he said, "God's will be done." But one man excelled all in
wealth and honour, and he sought the father and asked him to give his
daughter to his own son in marriage; and he consented; so the usual
betrothal gifts were made.
And after some time, when she was aged eighteen, Paphnutius, taking
her, went to the monastery with her, and gave monies for the need of
the brethren, and said to the abbot, "I have brought to thee the fruit
of thy prayers, that thou mayest pray for her, for I am about to
deliver her in marriage."
Then the abbot bade that she should be taken to the guest-house, and
he spake with her, and said much about purity, humility, and meekness.
Now she was there three days, and she gave ear to the psalmody every
day, and saw the holy conversation of the monks, and she wondered at
their life, and said, "Blessed indeed are these men." So her heart
began to be solicitous in the fear of the Lord.
And when three days were accomplished, Paphnutius led her to the abbot
and said, "Come, my father, that thy handmaiden may salute thee, and
pray for her, for we are going home to town." And the maiden cast
herself at the abbot's feet, saying, "I pray thee, my Father, entreat
the Lord to give me my heart's desire," so he, extending his hand over
her, blessed her, saying, "God, who knewest man before ever he was
born, take care of this thy handmaiden, that she may merit a portion
and fellowship in thy heavenly kingdom." So they returned to the city.
Now, it fell out, one day, that the abbot was about to be ordained,
and he sent a monk to Paphnutius, to invite him to the solemnity. Then
the brother asked after him, and the servants said, "He has gone out."
Then Euphrosyne called to her the monk, and began to question him.
"Tell me of your charity, my brother, how many brethren are there in
the monastery?" He answered, "There are three hundred and fifty-two."
The maiden said, "If anyone desired to go there for conversion, would
your abbot receive him?" He answered, "He would receive him with the
greatest joy, for the Lord said, 'He that cometh to me I will in no
wise cast out.'" Euphrosyne said, "Do all of you chant in your church,
and all fast together alike?" The monk answered, "We all chant
together, but every one fasts following his own way, as much and how
suits him best; there is no constraint, but ready will." Presently
Paphnutius returned from his walk, and the monk, seeing him, told him
the message of the abbot. Then Paphnutius was glad, and went with him
in a little boat to the monastery. Now, when he was gone, Euphrosyne
sent a trusty servant, saying, "Go into the monastery of Theodosius,
enter the church, and bring hither any monk you find there." Now, by
the goodness of God, there was a monk just coming from the monastery,
and when the boy saw him, he bade him come to the house of Euphrosyne.
And when the maiden saw him, she rose and saluted him, saying, "Pray
for me, my Father!" So, praying, he blessed her, and sat down. Then
Euphrosyne said to him, "My lord, I have a Christian father, but my
mother is dead. My father wishes to give me to this world, and I
shrink from being defiled thereby, but I fear to be disobedient to my
father, so I am in a strait and know not what to do. I spent all last
night without sleep, asking God to show me His way, and this morning I
have sent into the church for a father, who might tell me what I
should do. I know that God hath sent thee to me; declare to me, now,
His will." Then the old man said, "This is the Word of the Lord. If
any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and
children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he
cannot be my disciple. (Luke xiv., 26.) This is the saying of the Lord
Christ. I have nothing to add thereto." Then said Euphrosyne, "I trust
in God and in thy prayers. Cut off my hair." So the old man arose, and
shore off the hair of her head, and laid on her the tunic of
profession, and praying, he blessed her, saying, "The God, who hath
delivered all His saints, protect thee from all evil." And when he had
thus spoken, he departed, and went on his way rejoicing.
But Euphrosyne thought in herself, "If I go to a convent of maidens my
father will make inquiries and drag me violently away, and give me to
the bridegroom. I will go to a monastery of men, where none will
suspect me." So saying, she put off her female attire, and clothed
herself in the habit of a man, and, leaving her house in the dusk of
evening, taking with her 500 pennies, concealed herself all night.
Next morning her father came to the city, and went, by the will of
God, to church, before going home. Now, Euphrosyne made her way to
that monastery where her father was so well known, and announced to
the abbot, through the porter, that an eunuch of the palace was
without desiring to speak with him. Then, when the abbot came forth,
Euphrosyne cast herself on the ground, and when they had prayed they
sat down. Then said the old man, "Wherefore hast thou come hither, my
son?" And she answered, "I desire to dwell here and follow your holy
conversation." Then said the old man, "Thou hast done well, my son!
Here is the monastery. If it please thee, dwell with us. But tell me,
what is thy name?" She answered, "Smaragdus (Emerald)." He said, "Thou
art very young, and not able to dwell alone, but needest a master to
teach thee the rule and conversation of the monks." To whom she made
answer, "As thou willest, my father." So she put the five hundred
pence in his hand, and he called to him an aged brother, named
Agapitus, a holy man, and gave to him Smaragdus, saying, "Henceforth
he shall be to thee a son and disciple." Then, having knelt, he
blessed them, and they responded Amen, and Agapitus led her away to
his cell.
Now Paphnutius, her father, went home, and when he found her not he
sought through Alexandria. He searched every convent of women. Now,
there were ships in the harbour, and his servants by force entered
them, and searched them through, and they hunted the country round,
the deserts and the caves, not to mention the houses of their friends,
and they found her not. Then he bewailed her as one dead, together
with the bridegroom and his father; but Paphnutius could not be
comforted, he had no rest, not knowing where his daughter was. And at
last, unable to bear his anguish longer, he hastened to the abbot of
whom we have already spoken, and fell at his feet, and cried, "I pray
thee, cease not from supplication that the child of thy prayer may be
found, for I know not what has befallen my daughter." Hearing this,
the venerable old man was mightily troubled, and he summoned all the
brethren, and said, "Show your charity, my brothers, and let us all
entreat the Lord, that he may declare to us what has befallen the
daughter of our good friend, Paphnutius." So they all fasted and
prayed for the space of a week, and nothing was revealed touching
Euphrosyne, as was wont, when they at other times besought the Lord.
Now when nothing was revealed to any, the abbot began to console the
father, saying, "Do not be downcast, my son, at the Lord's discipline,
for whom He loveth He chasteneth. Know this, of a surety, that no
sparrow falls to the ground, without His knowledge, how then can
anything have happened to thy daughter without His consent? If any
evil had befallen her--which God forbid!--would not the Lord have
showed it to one of the brethren praying for her? I have confidence in
God, that thou shalt see thy daughter again in this life." So the
father went away comforted. But he often returned to commend himself
to the prayers of the brethren, and one day he cast himself down
before the abbot and said, "I cannot bear my anguish, O my father!
because of my lost daughter, but the wound in my heart bleeds more
every day, and my spirit is vexed within me." Now when the old man saw
him so broken, he said, "Wouldst thou converse with a spiritual
brother here, from the palace of Theodosius?" But he knew not that he
spake of the daughter of Paphnutius; and the man said "I am willing."
Then the abbot called Agapitus, and said, "Take Paphnutius, and
introduce him to the cell of Smaragdus." And he did so, knowing
nothing. Now, when she suddenly heard her father's voice, and knew
him, her eyes filled with tears. But Paphnutius did not recognize her,
for her face was much shrunk with fasting, vigils, and tears; and she
drew her hood over her face, that he might not see her distinctly. And
when they had prayed, they sat down. Then she began to speak to him of
the future kingdom of happiness and eternal glory, and how it was to
be won through humility and purity, and a holy life, and tender love.
For she saw that her father was much depressed, and she pitied him;
yet fearing lest he should recognize her, and it would prove a
hindrance in her path, and willing to comfort him, she said, "Believe
me, God will not despise thy groaning. If thy child were living in
wickedness, God would shew thee the way to her, that thou mightest
pluck her away. No! trust God, she has chosen the better course, and
is serving God somewhere. He is able to lead thee to her. Be of good
courage, He will reveal her to thee some day." Then she said "Go,
sir!" And as he retired, she grew deadly pale, and tears flowed from
her eyes. But he was full of comfort, and he said to the abbot, "I go
comforted as though to-day I had seen my child." And he returned home
magnifying the Lord.
Now after Smaragdus had lived thirty-eight years in the cell, she fell
sick, and knew that she must die. And when, on a certain day, as was
his frequent custom, Paphnutius came to the monastery, and asked to
see Smaragdus, the abbot bade that he should be conducted to the cell.
But when he found that Smaragdus lay sick, he kissed him, and weeping,
said "Woe is me! where are all the promises, and sweet hopes, that
thou didst give me, of seeing my daughter again? Not only do I not see
her, but thou in whom I have found some consolation, thou goest away,
and there is none left to be the comfort of my old age. For thirty and
eight years I have lost my daughter, and nothing has been revealed to
me concerning her, though I have prayed for her night and day." And
when Smaragdus saw the old man's distress and tears, he said, "Be of
good courage, is the hand of the Lord shortened, that He cannot
perform what is promised? Lay aside thy sorrow. Remember how Joseph
was revealed by God to the patriarch Jacob, who bewailed him as one
dead. But I pray thee, tarry here three days, and leave me not." So
Paphnutius remained beside him three days, for he said, "May be, the
Lord will reveal somewhat to him;" and he was all that while full of
anxiety. And on the third day he said, "I have waited, my brother!"
Then Smaragdus knew that he should not survive that day, and he said
to Paphnutius, "Draw near to me." And he drew near. Then said
Smaragdus, who is also Euphrosyne, "Because the Almighty Lord hath
brought me to the end of my contest, not by might of mine, but by His
help, there remaineth to me the crown. And now I would not have thee
troubled about thy daughter--I am thy daughter, Euphrosyne, and thou
art my father, Paphnutius. And now I pray thee, (for none know that I
am a woman), when I am dead, do thou, my father, wash and lay me out
for my grave, and pray for me." And when she had said this, she gave
up her soul. And it was the first of January.
[Illustration: S. EUPHROSYNE FINDING HERSELF AT DEATH'S DOOR, MAKES
HERSELF KNOWN TO HER FATHER.
From the "Menologium Græcorum" of Cardinal Albani. Feb. 11]
Then when Paphnutius heard these words, and saw that she was fallen
asleep, all his bowels were moved, and he fell on the ground, and was
as one dead. Now Agapitus came running in, and saw Smaragdus dead, and
Paphnutius lying senseless on the ground, so he cast water on his face
and said, "What aileth thee, Master Paphnutius?" Then said Paphnutius,
"Let me go that I may die." And when he was risen up, he cast himself
on the face of the dead monk, and cried, "Woe is me! my sweetest
daughter, why didst thou not tell me before, that I might have died
with thee?" So Agapitus, having guessed the truth, was amazed, and
hasted and told the abbot, who came, and cried "Euphrosyne, spouse of
Christ, forget not thy fellow-servants, who dwell in this monastery,
but pray for us to our Lord Jesus Christ, that he may make us manfully
contend to reach the port of safety, and to have our portion with Him,
and with all His saints." Then he called all the brethren together,
and they buried Euphrosyne reverently. And after that her father came
and dwelt in the same cell, and was there for ten years, and after
that he migrated to God, and they laid him beside his daughter.