Venerable Euphrosyne of Alexandria (V)
The Venerable Euphrosyne of Alexandria was born at the beginning of the fifth century in the city of Alexandria. She was the only daughter of noble and wealthy parents. The girl’s mother died early, and the whole burden of her upbringing fell on her father, Paphnutius. A deeply believing and devout Christian, Paphnutius often went to a monastery and sought counsel and guidance from its abbot, who had advanced far in the spiritual life. When Euphrosyne turned eighteen, her father resolved to marry her off, and went again to the house to ask the holy elder’s blessing on his daughter’s marriage. The ascetic, endowed with the gift of foresight, talked with Euphrosyne and blessed her thus: “May God do what is best for thy soul, child, and strengthen thee in His fear, and count thee worthy of the good things prepared for those who please Him.”
By the providence of God the girl was secretly clothed in the monastic schema by a monk who had come from the desert to Alexandria; but she was afraid that her father would find her in a convent, and so, under the name of the monk Smaragdus, she went to a monastery of men. The abbot placed the newcomer under obedience to Father Agapius, “wise in the things of God”, who had attained dispassion. The spiritual father told Euphrosyne to labour in seclusion in her cell. Only Father Agapius was allowed to visit her. The saint took up a still more severe struggle: “she added labours to labours, and fasting to fasting, and vigils greater than her former vigils”.
Euphrosyne’s father, Paphnutius, was thunderstruck by his daughter’s disappearance. For a long time he searched for her in vain. Overcome with grief, he went to the monastery more and more often. Here he found consolation in conversation with the abbot and the monks. The saint revealed her secret to her father only before her death.
The holy mother was buried with honour in the fathers’ cemetery. And her father Paphnutius settled in her cell; he gave away all his property to the poor and to the churches, and laboured for a long time to win saving grace.
The blessed Euphrosyne is also commemorated on 16 February together with her father, Saint Paphnutius (see the reading for 16 February).
