Venerable Mother Syncletica

Life

Syncletica was of Macedonian origin. Raised in Alexandria. As a wealthy and distinguished maiden she had many suitors, but she rejected them all and fled from her parents' home to a monastery. In the greatest abstinence, vigil and prayer she lived to eighty years. Her instructions to the nuns have always been considered true spiritual pearls, for this righteous one did not arrive at high wisdom through books, but through suffering, affliction, day-and-night meditation and spiritual communion with the higher divine world. She passed in soul to that higher world in the year 350. Saint Syncletica among other things said: "If it is a time of fasting, do not excuse yourself from fasting supposedly because of illness, for behold even those who do not fast fall into the same illnesses." She also said: "Just as treasure that is openly displayed is quickly plundered, so also virtue, when it is proclaimed, is darkened and lost."