Euphrasia

ON S. EUPHRASIA, VIRGIN AND MARTYR, AT NICOMEDIA IN BITHYNIA.

Under Diocletian.

Euphrasia, Virgin Martyr at Nicomedia in Bithynia (S.)

Euphrasia is unknown to the Latin calendars, in which three heroines of the same name are celebrated. This one was crowned at Nicomedia, while S. Anthimus, Bishop of that city, was still alive, under Diocletian and Maximian, as will be said in the life of S. Anthimus on 27 April. The combat of Euphrasia was described by Nicephorus Callistus, book 7, chapter 13, and from him by Baronius, volume 3, year 309, no. 35, and in the Greek Menaea on this day, and by Maximus Cytherius. There exists an elegant poem about her by our Vincentius Guinisius.

ACTS FROM THE MENAEA.

Euphrasia, Virgin Martyr at Nicomedia in Bithynia (S.)

By a wise stratagem escaping bodily violation, You are truly rewarded by the sword, Euphrasia.

She was a native of the city of Nicomedia, under the Emperor Maximian, illustrious in birth, continent and upright in life. When she could not be induced to sacrifice to the demons, she was cruelly beaten: and when she persisted in her resolve, she was handed over to a certain barbarian for violation: The holy stratagem of Euphrasia, for preserving her virginity: by whom her head was cut off, after she had deceived him by promising that, if he would abstain from violation, she would show him a remedy, by using which he would be harmed in war neither by swords nor by javelins, but would be entirely invulnerable; and that she would offer the proof of this upon her own body. She offered her head to be struck. He, believing her to be saying this in earnest, struck her neck with great force, and severed her head.

THE SAME ACTS FROM NICEPHORUS.

Euphrasia, Virgin Martyr at Nicomedia in Bithynia (S.)

From various sources.

[1] A certain other maiden, bearing the most beautiful and inviolate ornament of virginity by the testimony of all, because when seized she had shunned the worship of the gods as the greatest evil, was handed over to violent and lustful men for mockery and base pleasure. S. Euphrasia handed over to the lustful. And she was already being led away in this manner, when by chance Anthimus, the Bishop of the Church of Nicomedia, happened to meet her along the way. And being asked by her which of two equal evils she should rather choose, she is advised by the Bishop to retain faith above virginity: he replied, saying: Daughter Euphrasia, the gift of virginity is indeed most beautiful, but the commandment of faith is far more excellent. For since, if some accident or necessity so required, it would be far better to give the garment itself rather than the body to those who would seize it; in the present evils and temptations also, one should consider the matter in the same way. And if it is not permitted for you to retain both, I think you should strive at least to keep your soul undefiled; that is, with your mind confirmed through faith, you should allow your flesh to suffer the injuries and insults of wicked men.

[2] Having learned the counsel of that man, with her mind still fluctuating in both directions, but finally resolving to keep both safe, she follows where she was being led. And when she was shut up in the same room with the wicked young man, she circumvented him with a certain trick: she offers the soldier an ointment against wounds: for she professed herself to be a sorceress, and promised a great reward for preserving her modesty, namely a drug, by which he, once anointed, could in the contests and battles of war be harmed or killed by no weapon or sword at all. And if you wish, she said, to make trial of such a remedy, I will immediately demonstrate it to you clearly. He immediately permitted her to prepare it. Then she, truly wise, melting wax in oil, and kneading it with her hands, anointed and smeared it around her neck on all sides. When she had finished this, she herself is killed, anointed with it, she told him to strike her throat with a sword driven with all the force he could muster, and to test the power and efficacy of that remedy. And he, with all the strength he could, plunged the sword into her, and severed her head with a single blow.