Venerable Euphrosyne

Life

The daughter of a wealthy and notable man named Paphnutius from Alexandria. Asked of God through prayer by her childless parents. Her pious parents raised their daughter in the faith of Christ. Not wishing to enter into marriage, the young Euphrosyne, to hide herself from her father, dressed in men's clothing and presented herself to the abbot of a certain monastery as a eunuch of the Emperor Theodosius, under the name Smaragdus. The abbot received her and placed her under the guidance of the spiritual father Agapitus. By her ascetic labors of fasting and prayer, Smaragdus quickly surpassed all the monks in that monastery. When she had completed thirty-eight years of difficult ascetic struggle, Paphnutius visited that monastery, and the abbot directed him to Smaragdus for prayer and consolation. Smaragdus recognized Paphnutius, but Paphnutius did not recognize Smaragdus. When the father confessed his sorrow over his lost daughter, Smaragdus told him not to lose hope, for he would yet see his daughter in this life, and asked him to come again in three days. When Paphnutius returned, Smaragdus lay on his deathbed. Then the dying one said to Paphnutius: I am Euphrosyne, your daughter; you are my father! The father could not come to himself for a long time from the terrible surprise. Then the blessed Euphrosyne breathed her last, and her father wept over her. After burying his daughter, Paphnutius himself entered that monastery and took up residence in the cell of his departed and holy daughter. After ten years of asceticism, the holy Paphnutius also reposed in the Lord.

From the Hymn of Praise

An example of meekness and prayerfulness,Holy Sergius, from his youthLoved God and divine beauty,Implanted in himself stillness and goodness;