Venerable Eupraxia of Tabennisi (+393)

The Venerable Eupraxia of Tabennisi was the mother of the holy virgin Eupraxia (commemorated 25 December). Her husband, the pious senator Antigonus, was a relative of the Emperor Theodosius the Great. After being widowed, Saint Eupraxia devoted herself to the service of the Lord. She went round many monasteries and made generous offerings, and at last came to the convent of Tabennisi too. Captivated by the holiness of the nuns, Eupraxia often visited this convent with her little daughter. Because of her parents’ charity and holiness, special grace came upon the child, and she expressed the wish to become a nun, which greatly gladdened her mother. The abbess of the convent, Theodula, kept the little Eupraxia in the convent.

Eupraxia the elder continued her works of charity, made her fasting stricter and increased her prayer. Mother Theodula, who had the gift of clairvoyance, told her beforehand of the approach of her end. The Venerable Eupraxia gave thanks to the Lord, said farewell to the sisters of the convent, and gave her daughter this last instruction: “Love the Lord Jesus Christ and tremble before Him with reverence; honour the sisters, and do not dare even to think that you stand above them and may have them serve you; acquire poverty of spirit, so that we may enjoy the spiritual treasure.” Three days later the holy woman committed her soul to the Lord and was buried in the same convent where her daughter went on labouring.