Venerable Elizabeth

Life

In her early youth she entered monastic life at the Monastery of Saints Cosmas and Damian in Constantinople, and took upon herself a difficult ascetic labor for the sake of Christ God and for the sake of her soul. She considered herself the bride of Christ, and regarded this world as though it did not exist. From her great love for God there also flowed her great mercy toward people, especially toward the sick and the suffering. By the gift that God gave her, she healed various diseases and various afflictions in people. During her nocturnal prayers she was seen all illumined by heavenly light. After her death her relics too were healing, so that at her grave through the ages a multitude of the sick and suffering gathered. She reposed peacefully and passed into the eternal joy of her Lord in the year 540.