Venerable Euphrosyne, Princess of Polotsk

Life

The daughter of Vseslav, Prince of Polotsk. When her parents wished to betroth her, she fled to a women's monastery and was tonsured. Three times an angel of the Lord appeared to her and showed her the place where she was to establish a new convent. She drew into monasticism her sister Eudoxia as well, and many other maidens from the nobility. One of her kinswomen, Zvenislava, by birth the Princess Borisovna, brought all her treasures, garments, and precious stones and said: "All the beauties of this world I consider worthless, and these adornments prepared for marriage I give to the church of the Savior, and I myself desire to be betrothed to Him in spiritual marriage and to bow my head beneath His gentle and easy yoke." Euphrosyne tonsured her also and gave her the name Eupraxia. In old age Euphrosyne desired to die in Jerusalem and prayed to God for this. God heard her prayer, and indeed, when she visited Jerusalem she ended her life there. She was buried in the Monastery of Saint Theodosius on May 23, 1173.