Eupraxia

ON ST. EUPRAXIA, OR EUPHRASIA, VIRGIN IN THE THEBAID

AFTER AD 410

Preliminary Commentary.

Eupraxia, or Euphrasia, Virgin in the Thebaid (St.)

[1] The reign of Theodosius the Elder was distinguished not only by men of outstanding holiness, but also by women. Among these was St. Domnica or Dominica, a virgin from Palestine who was brought to Constantinople with some companions, where, with the assistance of the Patriarch Nectarius, she built an oratory and monastery dedicated to St. Zacharias the Prophet. The parents of St. Eupraxia, Her Acts for the eighth of January, hitherto hidden, have now at last been obtained by us and are preserved for a supplement. Here, however, we wished to indicate them, so that it might be known that the ruling city at the same time received from elsewhere Virgins of outstanding holiness, while it was sending to Egypt a model of matronly purity, Eupraxia, together with a three- or four-year-old daughter bearing the same name as her mother. We believe that the memory of this mother is marked in the Greek Menaea by the sole expression of her name on the eleventh of January. Were they enrolled among the Saints? The life of both her and her husband Antigonus is contained in summary in the daughter's Acts, whence in the Bodecensian manuscript this title is read: "The Life and Conduct of Antigonus the Senator and his wife Eupraxia, as well as of their daughter Eupraxia, whose passing is celebrated on the third day before the Ides of February." Indeed, codex 866 of the Vatican Library in Greek has only the parents' names for a title: "The Life of Antigonus and his wife Eupraxia." We do not dare, however, to inscribe them among the Saints, even though they were a couple of most holy life, because we lack sufficient evidence of ecclesiastical veneration.

[2] Veneration among the Greeks on July 25: As regards the veneration of the daughter, among the omissions for the eleventh of February we judged that her name and day were confused by Canisius and certain others with Euphrosyne, by others called Euphrosia and Euphrasia of Alexandria, a Virgin whose Acts we gave at that time. But her name and eulogy are exhibited by the manuscript Synaxaries or Menaea which we have seen -- namely several Ambrosian ones, the Clermont, Chiffletian, and two Turin manuscripts, and one from the monastery of Crypta Ferrata -- for the twenty-fourth or twenty-fifth of July. This eulogy is also found from the translation of Cardinal Sirletus in the Menology published by Henricus Canisius among the ancient readings, and it is as follows: On the same day, of St. Eupraxia, daughter of a certain Antigonus of the senatorial order and of Eupraxia, under the Emperor Theodosius, whose kinswoman she was. After Antigonus died, the mother Eupraxia commended her to the Emperor Theodosius, who betrothed her to a certain man of senatorial rank. But she, departing with her mother, traveled to the Thebaid of Egypt and entered a monastery in which there were one hundred and four virgins leading a life equal to that of the Angels; she emulated their virtue and did not allow herself to depart from the monastery. At that time the virgin was sixteen years old. Eulogy from the manuscript Menaea: Her mother, departing from there and visiting the monasteries of the East, bestowed many possessions and benefactions upon the needy. After this, having fallen ill, she returned to the dwelling where she had left her daughter; and having committed all her goods to her daughter, she rested in the Lord. Eupraxia, having distributed all her goods to the poor and the churches of God, embraced the practice of monastic life with distinction, and made such progress in virtue and subjugated the needs of the body, that she stood motionless for forty-five days with her hands raised to heaven. And so, on account of her excellent virtue, the blessed Eupraxia received the grace of miracles, by which she freed many from various ailments, and she herself, having attained a blessed end, was translated to the Lord.

This eulogy is preceded in the Chiffletian manuscript by this distich:

Eupraxia approaches Christ, rich, adorned with many spiritual works.

[3] The current Roman Martyrology follows Usuard, in whose very many manuscript copies the Deposition of St. Euphrasia or Eupraxia is found on the third day before the Ides of March in the Thebaid. Among the Latins, March 13: We suspect that this change of day, and perhaps also of name, arose from the fact that the older Martyrologies, such as the most ancient one of St. Jerome and others cited above, begin the last group of Martyrs who suffered at Nicomedia on this day with a Saint of this name. Content to have pointed this out, we retain on this day the veneration of our Byzantine Eupraxia in the Latin Churches, on the authority of almost all the Martyrologies after Usuard, among which the Trier manuscript of St. Maximin concludes thus: On the same day, the birthday of St. Euphrasia the Virgin, whose life is found full of virtues.

[4] Our Rosweyde saw this Life and, when about to publish the Lives of the Fathers in a second edition, collated it with the manuscript of the same St. Maximin. Acts from Latin and Greek manuscripts: We give the same, collated with another twofold manuscript from Saint-Omer, one from the monastery of St. Bertin and the other from the Cathedral Church. In many instances we preferred to follow the reading of these manuscripts because they agreed more closely with the Greek text which we received from the Vatican Library. We could have prepared a new and more elegant translation from this Greek; but we thought deference should be given to antiquity, so as to retain the version found in so many ancient manuscripts. Whenever we prefer the Saint-Omer manuscripts to those that Heribertus had, we add in the notes a clear reason drawn from the propriety of the Greek words; from which too we preferred to write Eupraxia rather than Euphraxia, though we wished to add Euphrasia in the title cited by St. John of Damascus, because the authors of the Latin translations appear to have read it so in the Greek. Meanwhile, all the Greek texts we have seen have Eupraxia, a name derived from "doing good," just as Euphrasia derives from "speaking well." St. John of Damascus also read Eupraxia, who in his third oration on images transcribed two passages verbatim from this Life and published with altered style by others, -- not in summary, as Rosweyde supposed -- one from the middle of number 8, the other from the beginning of number 9, thereby indicating what great authority this Life enjoyed in his time. The same was translated by the monk Agapius from the ancient Greek into the modern dialect and inserted in the selection of the fairer Lives, published at Venice in 1644. Surius had found the same in the Lives of the Fathers of all earlier editions, and also in a notable manuscript codex; but he preferred to give it with the style slightly polished. Those who were in charge of that third edition, seeing that this was not entirely approved by the learned, restored the old text from Rosweyde.

[5] We believe the death of St. Eupraxia occurred after the year 410 of the Christian Era; for having been born during the reign of Theodosius, Other Euphrasias venerated on this day at Bologna, and therefore after the year 379, before his death and therefore before the year 395, she had reached the age of puberty, so that she could legitimately divest herself of her possessions when she was over twelve years old; and she lived to her thirtieth year. From her, and from the Nicomedian Euphrasia, a Virgin and Martyr venerated on the nineteenth of January, and from another Martyr of the same city bearing the same name, about whom we treated on this day (if indeed she is different from the preceding one), we think the one whose Relics Masinus says in his Illustrated Bologna are venerated on this day at the church of St. Nicholas surnamed "of St. Felix" must definitely be distinguished; those Relics I would believe were brought from Rome. At Meaux: And for a similar reason, the Church of Meaux in Gaul inserted a commemoration of St. Euphrasia at Vespers and Lauds on this day in its Breviary of the year 1640. One might also suspect that Euphrasia, the first Abbess of the monastery of St. Lawrence at Bourges, founded by Charlemagne and endowed by his son Louis -- whom the compiler of the Bourges Patriarchate, published by Philippe Labbaeus some one hundred and twenty years ago, addresses as "Saint," and who is said to have been a natural daughter of the same Charlemagne; and who is therefore listed by Saussaye in the Appendix of the Gallican Martyrology among Saints not assigned to any specific day, with the title of "Blessed" -- this Euphrasia of Bourges, I say, one might suspect had merited this veneration at Meaux, with Relics having been transferred on some occasion; but whose and whence they are, the records having been destroyed by the ravages of time, is now unknown; for there is nothing about her in the Lessons. The Prayer and Antiphons with Versicles are taken from the Common Office of Virgins according to the rite of the Roman Breviary. At Cologne: Aegidius Gelenius in his Cologne Calendar places St. Euphrasia on this day, whose head, like another of St. Seraphia, is religiously preserved at Cologne among the Capuchiness nuns; about which he rightly adds: but their history is known only to Him from whom nothing is hidden.

LIFE

Collated from ancient manuscripts with the Greek text of the Vatican Library

Eupraxia, or Euphrasia, Virgin in the Thebaid (St.)

BHL Number: 2718

FROM MANUSCRIPTS.

CHAPTER I

The noble and saintly parents of St. Eupraxia. Her betrothal: her withdrawal into Egypt with her widowed mother.

[1] In the days of Theodosius, the most pious Emperor, there was a certain man in the royal city, a Senator named Antigonus, St. Euphrasia born to Antigonus, kinsman of the Emperor Theodosius, who was joined to the Emperor by both kinship and companionship, wise in speech as well as in deed; and always advising good things to the Prince, that he might govern the affairs of the Roman Commonwealth piously. He was also a compassionate man, providing necessities to all who were in need. And the Emperor loved him not

only as a kinsman and senator, but also as a Christian and a pious man who always offered him useful counsel. He was also exceedingly wealthy, so that the royal city had no other like him in riches, in speech, and in deed. and his mother Eupraxia. He took as his wife a most noble woman of his own family, descended from the same Imperial blood, whose name was Eupraxia -- a devout woman who feared the Lord greatly, who devoted herself to the church and offered her prayers to God with tears. She made many fit for God's work and offered many oblations in the churches and shrines. The Emperor and the Empress loved her greatly, especially because she was of their family, and was also composed in manners, and honorable, and very devout. A daughter was born to them, and they named her after her mother, Eupraxia.

[2] When they had this daughter, one day Antigonus said to Eupraxia: You know, my sister Eupraxia, that this life is nothing, riches are nothing, nothing is the vanity of this temporal world. Those who scorn vanity and pleasures For in eighty years the time of a man is completed with ruin; but the riches stored up in heaven remain for infinite ages of ages for those who fear God. And we deprive ourselves of those riches, bound by worldly thoughts; and placed in the deception of temporal riches, we consume our days in vain, acquiring nothing useful for our souls. When Eupraxia heard this, she said to Antigonus her husband: And what do you bid us do, my lord? Antigonus said to her: and then living in continence: We have acquired one daughter through God; let her suffice for us, and let us by no means come together again in secular wretchedness and misery. Hearing this, Eupraxia rose and stretched her hands toward heaven, and groaning, she said to her husband Antigonus: Blessed be God, who has made you worthy of His fear and has brought you to the knowledge of the truth. Truly, my lord, I have often besought God that He would illuminate your heart and cause your mind to shine forth for this reason; but I did not presume to reveal this to you. Since you yourself have made the beginning, bid me to speak. Antigonus said to her: Say what you wish, my sister. She answered: You know, my lord, that many generations ago the Apostle testifies and said: The time is short; it remains that those who have wives should be as though they had none; 1 Cor. 7:29 and those who rejoice in riches as though not rejoicing; and those who buy as though not possessing; for the fashion of this world passes away. For what use will these monies be, and such abundance of possessions? None of these things can descend with anyone into hell. With your good counsel, therefore, hasten to give much to the poor, lest the plan which you have conceived be found unfruitful. When Antigonus heard this, he glorified God.

[3] When therefore he had embraced the best manner of life and had distributed much to the poor, his father having died after spending much on almsgiving, Antigonus, living only one year after he had renounced relations with his wife, having piously arranged his life, died at the end of the year. Then the Emperor and Empress alike mourned him as one descended from their own family, a just and devout man. They also felt compassion for Eupraxia, not only as their own kinswoman, but also because she was young in age. For she had lived with her husband for two years and three months; for during one year, by mutual agreement, they had lived in abstinence, like brother and sister. When Antigonus had been buried, the Emperor and Empress greatly consoled Eupraxia. But she, taking her own daughter, by the mother, gave her into the hands of the Emperor and Empress; and prostrating herself at their feet, with crying and great groaning she said: Into the hands of God and yours I now commend this orphan. Therefore, having remembrance of Antigonus, who was your kinsman, receive and protect her; and be to her in the place of father and mother. And many shed rivers of tears and cries upon hearing these things, so that even the Princes mourned.

[4] After a short time, when the mourning after the death of Antigonus had somewhat subsided, the infant girl is betrothed through earnest-money, the Emperor persuaded her to betroth her daughter Eupraxia to a certain very wealthy Senator. And it happened that Eupraxia accepted the earnest-money, and upon accepting the earnest-money, the girl's age was awaited. For she was still a very small child when she accepted the earnest-money, about five years old. After some time, however, a certain Senator conceived the idea of marrying Antigonus' widow. And through the entreaties of senatorial women, he persuaded the Empress, without the Emperor's knowledge, to send a message to Eupraxia with words about such a marriage. then by the mother, who refused a second marriage: When she heard this, she wept bitterly and said to the women who had been sent: Woe to you in the world to come, who urge such things upon me and conspire against a woman who hastens to live according to God. Depart from me, for you are now doing the alien works of your way of life. And they, put to shame, departed and reported to the Empress what had happened. When the Emperor learned what had been done, he sharply rebuked the Empress; and angered against the Empress, he said: Truly, Empress, you have done a thing foreign to your way of life. Are these the works of a Christian Empress? Did you thus promise God to reign piously? Do you thus remember Antigonus, who was always useful to us? You have done a thing alien to our empire, that you compel a woman established in girlish age, who lived with her husband for scarcely one year alone, and soon by mutual agreement they separated themselves from the common bed for the sake of the heavenly kingdom -- you compel her to return to the desires of the world? Did you not fear God in wishing to do this iniquity? Who, upon hearing this, will not mock my Empire? Who will satisfy people that this was not done through my plots? You have done an indecent and unsuitable thing, which ought not to have been heard of in my Empire, because of my most sincere friend Antigonus.

[5] When the Empress heard this, she remained almost without voice for about two hours from excessive confusion, like a stone. And great sadness arose between the Emperor and the Empress on account of Eupraxia, the wife of Antigonus. Then Eupraxia, perceiving that great sadness had arisen between the Emperor and Empress on her account, became utterly downcast and sad unto death, and wished to depart from the city. Then weeping bitterly, she is taken away to Egypt, she said to her daughter Eupraxia: My daughter, we have an abundant and great estate in Egypt. Come, let us go there, and let us visit the possessions of your father and mine; and all that is mine is yours, my daughter. Then, taking her daughter Eupraxia, she departed from the royal city without the Emperor's knowledge and came to Egypt; and there she remained, frequently visiting her estates. And she traveled to the interior of the Thebaid with her stewards and attendants, she there distributes great alms, attending to her affairs. And there too, devoting herself to churches and shrines, and offering many oblations in monasteries of men and women, she distributed much money.

p The same: "to give as wife." In Greek: ekdounai, "to give in marriage."

q So the Saint-Omer and St. Bertin manuscripts with the Greek. Rosweyde with the Trier manuscript reads "the Senator himself," understanding the same man to whom the little girl had been betrothed. Less correctly: for this man, even though here called Senator, was evidently only the son of a Senator, as is clear from number 13, and indeed still a minor. I infer this from the similar betrothal of St. Theophanes, treated on the preceding day.

r In Greek: "of senatorial women."

s The cited manuscripts: "and you conspire against a woman hastening to live piously according to God's command," which agrees with the Greek.

t Rosweyde with the Trier manuscript: "because you have done a thing alien to your assembly." In Greek: "You have done a deed inexcusable for yourselves."

u "Treated with contempt."

x "Of your imperial dignity."

y "You were accustomed."

aa The cited manuscripts: "Do you not fear God in urging this iniquity?" More clearly in Rosweyde with the Greek.

bb The same: "having."

CHAPTER II

The monastic life of St. Eupraxia: the death of her mother.

[6] There was a monastery of women in a certain city, having one hundred and thirty nuns, about whom people told great and wonderful tales of virtue. Among 130 nuns For in that monastery no one tasted wine, none of them ate an apple, or grapes, or figs, or anything of the sort which grows from the bounty of the earth. of wonderful austerity in food, Some of them indeed, having renounced the world from infancy, were said not even to see the appearance of fruit. Their food was sometimes

legumes, sometimes vegetables, and these without oil; some of them ate every other day, others every third day. None of them ever washed her feet with water. As for bathing, it is superfluous to speak of it; for upon hearing of it they vehemently condemned it, deeming even the mere mention of it to be full of shame and reproach, and they did not wish to tolerate even the sound of such an abominable thing. Each of them had her bed upon the ground, bedding, a small piece of haircloth one cubit wide and three cubits long, and rested a little upon it. Their garments too were of haircloth reaching to the ground, binding the extremities of their feet. haircloth garment, Each one labored as much as she could. And when it happened that one of them fell ill, no comfort or aid of medicine was brought to her; illnesses, but if one happened to fall sick, she received it as the greatest blessing from God and endured the ailment until the visitation of the Lord came upon her. None of them went out through the doors. There was a portress, enclosure: through whom all communications were made, and many healings took place there.

[7] Eupraxia, therefore, loving the monastery of the holy women on account of their wonderful manner of life, often went there and offered incense and candles. accepting incense and candles, One day she asked the Deaconess and the senior nuns of the monastery, saying to them: I wish to give a small blessing to your monastery, an income of twenty or thirty pounds of gold, that you may pray for this orphan and for Antigonus her father. The Deaconess answered her: My lady senator, your handmaids have no need of incomes, nor do they desire money; for they have left all things for this reason, not golden gifts, and they despise all things in this world, so that they may deserve to enjoy eternal blessings; and we wish to possess nothing, lest we be deprived of the heavenly kingdom. But lest I sadden you or dismiss you without fruit, bring a little oil and candles and incense to the oratory, and this will be for you as a reward of righteousness. And when these had been offered, Eupraxia asked the Deaconess that all the Sisters would pray for Antigonus and his daughter Eupraxia.

[8] One day the Deaconess said to the infant Eupraxia, testing her: My lady Eupraxia, do you love our monastery and all the Sisters? She answered: Yes, my lady, I love you. The Deaconess said to her again in jest: If you love us, stay with us in our habit. The little girl said to her: Truly, if my mother would not be saddened, the infant Eupraxia desires to remain: I would never leave this place again. The Deaconess said to her: Between us and your betrothed, whom do you love more? The girl said: I neither know him nor does he know me; but I know you and I love you. Tell me: whom do you love, me or him? And they said: We love you and our Christ. The girl answered: And I love both you and your Christ. a seven-year-old kisses the image of the Lord and consecrates herself to Christ: And Eupraxia her mother was sitting there, and there was no end to the rivers of her tears; for the Deaconess gladly heard the words of the girl, because though she was a mere infant in age, she spoke such things; for she had not yet completed seven years when she spoke such words with the Deaconess. Then her mother, groaning and weeping bitterly, said to her daughter: My daughter, come, let us go home; for it is already evening. The girl said to her: I am staying here with the Lady Deaconess. The Deaconess said to the girl: Go, my lady, to your home; you cannot stay here. For no one can stay here unless she has consecrated herself to Christ. The girl answered: Where is Christ? She joyfully showed her the image of the Lord. ready to learn and do all things imposed upon her: And Eupraxia went and kissed the Lord's image; and turning, she said to the Deaconess: Truly, I also consecrate myself to my Christ, and I will no longer go with my Lady Mother. The Deaconess said to her: Daughter, you have no place here to sleep, and you cannot stay here. The girl said: Where you sleep, I will sleep too. And since it was already evening, and her mother and the Deaconess had greatly pressed her to leave, they could not remove her from the monastery. For many days, therefore, her mother and the Deaconess coaxed her, and they were unable to persuade her to leave the monastery. At last the Deaconess said to the girl: Daughter, if you wish to remain here, you must learn your letters and the Psalter, and you must fast until evening, like all the Sisters. The girl said to her: I will fast and learn everything; only let me stay here. The Deaconess therefore said to her mother: My lady matron, leave this girl here; for I see that the grace of God has shone upon her; and the righteousness of her father, and your own virtue, and the prayers of you both, are seen to provide her with eternal life.

[9] Therefore Eupraxia arose and took her daughter and brought her to the image of the Lord; and stretching her hands toward heaven, with great crying and weeping she exclaimed, saying: Lord Jesus Christ, she is handed over by her mother before the image of the Lord to the Abbess: have care of this little child; for she has desired You and has commended herself to You. And turning, she said to her daughter: Eupraxia, my daughter; may the God who founded the immovable mountains confirm you also in His fear. And when she had said this, she entrusted her into the hands of the Deaconess; and weeping and beating her breast, she withdrew from the monastery in such a way that the whole congregation wept with her.

[10] On the next day the Deaconess, taking Eupraxia, brought her into the oratory, and having prayed over her, she clothed her in the monastic garment; she is clothed in the monastic garment, and stretching her hands toward heaven, she prayed for her, saying: King of the ages, who have begun a good work in her, bring it to completion in peace; grant that she may walk according to Your name, and that this little child may always find confidence in Your sight. Then Eupraxia her mother also prayed and said: My daughter, do you love being clothed in this habit? Eupraxia said to her: Indeed, mother, because (as I have learned) the Deaconess and the Lady Sisters have said the earnest-money of the heavenly Bridegroom: that the Lord Jesus Christ gives this habit as earnest-money to those who love Him. Her mother said to her: May He to whom you are betrothed make you worthy of His bridal chamber. And saying this and praying for her daughter, she bade farewell to the Deaconess and the Sisters, and kissed her daughter. And going out, she went about according to her custom, providing comfort to the poor and needy.

[11] Everywhere the excellent manner of life of Eupraxia was being made known -- how much she contributed to monasteries and venerable places -- so that the Emperor heard of it and the whole Senate greatly admired her devoted to sobriety and virtue, and glorified God. For they heard that she tasted no fish and drank no wine; but after all the gifts which she bestowed on everyone and the glory she earned, she fasted from evening to evening, sometimes taking legumes, sometimes vegetables.

[12] After a few days, the Deaconess summoned the girl's mother and said to her privately: My lady, I wish to tell you something; by her mother, do not let it trouble you. She answered: My lady, say what you wish. The Abbess said: If you wish to think about this little child, make arrangements; for I saw in a dream your husband Antigonus established in great glory, and he besought the Lord Jesus Christ that you should depart from your body and henceforth be with him, that she might be with her husband in eternal glory and enjoy that glory which your husband Antigonus merited because of his excellent life. When she heard these things, forewarned from heaven through the Abbess, the devout woman and true matron was not only not disturbed, but rejoiced with great joy. For she prayed that she might depart from human life and henceforth be with Christ; and immediately calling her daughter, she said to her: My daughter, as the Lady Deaconess has told me, Christ calls me, and the days of my death draw near. she is instructed in giving alms, Behold, I have given all my substance and your father's into your hands; dispense it piously, so that you may have a heavenly inheritance. When Eupraxia heard this from her mother, she began to groan and weep, saying: Woe to me, for I am a stranger and an orphan. Her mother said to her: Daughter, you have Christ as your father and bridegroom; therefore you are neither a stranger nor an orphan. You also have the Lady Deaconess in place of a mother. in the fear of God and humility. See, daughter, hasten to fulfill what you have promised. Fear God and honor the Lady Sisters, serving them with all humility. Never think in your heart, "I am of royal blood"; nor say, "They ought to serve me." Be poor on earth, that you may be enriched in heaven. Behold, you have all things in your hands; if need be, bring the possessions and money to the monastery, and pray for your father and for me, that we may find mercy with God and be freed from eternal punishment. Having given these instructions to her daughter, on the third day she died, and they buried her in the monastery in a tomb.

f Rosweyde: "in them."

p Eukterion. For Rosweyde, "Secretarium."

q The Greek adds: "Her mother entering, and seeing her clothed in that angelic garment, stretched out... and prayed with such words, saying: Daughter."

r In the two Saint-Omer and St. Bertin manuscripts: "King of heaven and Lord of lords."

s Hos ematha para ton megales, "as I learned from the Great One," namely the Lady Deaconess. For Abbots and Abbesses were most frequently called simply "the Great" in the monasteries of the East, without further addition; which happens very often in this Life.

t From here to the third line of number 14, a lacuna exists in the Greek manuscript due to the loss of one page.

u Rosweyde: "she returned to her home as a matron, and as a devout woman she was not only," etc.

CHAPTER III

The generous spirit of St. Eupraxia in overcoming temptations: Her blind obedience: Her strict fasts.

[13] St. Eupraxia is demanded back by her betrothed through the Emperor: When the Emperor heard that Eupraxia, the wife of Antigonus, had died, he summoned the Senator to whom her daughter had been betrothed and informed him, saying: The girl has entered a monastery. And the Senator asked the Emperor to write to the girl through imperial couriers, commanding her to come to the city and celebrate the wedding. When Eupraxia received the Emperor's letter and read it, she laughed at it; and sitting down, she wrote with her own hand another letter, containing this: she replies that she is wed to Christ: My Lord Emperor, do you advise your handmaid to reject Christ and to be joined to a corruptible man consumed by worms, who exists today and tomorrow will not? Far be it from your handmaid to commit this iniquity. Wherefore, my Lord Emperor, let that man trouble you no further; for I have consented to Christ, and it is impossible for me to deny Him. But I beseech your power to have remembrance of my parents. she asks that her goods be distributed to the poor, Therefore take all my substance and distribute it to the poor and to orphans together, and give all to the Churches. For I know that you will remember my parents, especially my father; for I have heard that in the palace he was never separated from you. Having remembrance of these, therefore, dispose well of this substance. Manumit all those placed under the yoke of servitude, slaves to be freed, debtors forgiven, and grant them legal documents. Command my father's stewards to forgive the farmers all the debt which they have been paying from the day of my father's death to this day; so that, free from concern for my earthly affairs, I may be able to serve Christ without any impediment, to whom I am known to have commended my soul. Pray for your handmaid, you and the Empress, that she may be worthy to serve Christ, as He deigns His handmaid should. Then, sealing the letter, she gave it to the courier. He, returning, presented the letter to the Emperor to read. And he, opening and reading it in private with the Empress, both shed many tears, praying earnestly for Eupraxia. And in the morning, the Emperor, summoning the entire Senate and the father of Eupraxia's betrothed as well, ordered the letter to be read aloud. And when they heard the letter, they were all filled with tears, and as if from one mouth they said: Truly, Lord Emperor, she is the daughter of Antigonus and Eupraxia, your kin, and this girl is of his blood. she is freed from the annoyance of an earthly bridegroom: Truly she is the devout daughter of devout parents, a holy branch from a holy root. And all, in a certain unity, glorified God and prayed likewise for the girl, and never again did that Senator dare to speak further about her.

[14] The Emperor therefore, disposing all things piously and distributing the girl's substance well to the poor, himself also died and was buried with his fathers in peace. Eupraxia, however, grew in greatness and conducted herself according to God, abstaining beyond her own measure. For she was twelve years old when she began to exercise herself in spiritual contests. at twelve, she performs pious exercises in the monastery: And first she ate from evening to evening, then every other day, then every third day. She alone, beyond the others, cleaned the dining hall and made the beds of the Sisters; she drew water from the well and carried it to the kitchen herself. Now this was the custom in the monastery: if ever it happened that any Sister was tempted by the devil in her sleep, she immediately revealed it to the Deaconess; in temptation, as the other nuns were accustomed, and the Deaconess with tears besought God that the devil's temptation might depart from her, and commanded her to carry stones and place them under her bed, and to scatter ashes over the haircloth, and to sleep thus for ten days. One day Eupraxia was tempted by the devil, and gathering stones she placed them under her bedding, and bringing ashes she sprinkled them on top. When the Deaconess saw the ashes on Eupraxia's bedding, she smiled and said to one of the senior Sisters: Truly, this girl has begun to be tempted by the devil. And the Deaconess prayed, saying: God, who created her according to Your will and permitted her to come to this spiritual Rule, confirm her in Your fear. she is strengthened by the Abbess: And the Deaconess called her and said to her: Why did you not tell me about the devil's temptation, but concealed it from me? And she, falling at the feet of the Abbess, said: Forgive me, my lady, for I was ashamed to tell you this matter. The Abbess said to her: My daughter, behold, you have begun to fight against temptations; act manfully, that you may conquer and be crowned.

[15] After a few days she was again tempted, and she told a certain Sister named Julia, who loved Eupraxia greatly and who also exercised her in spiritual contests. And Julia said to her: My lady Eupraxia, do not hide this from the Deaconess, but report it to her so that she may pray for you. For they say of her that she too endured many temptations of the devil from her youth, and as she relates, one night she was vehemently tempted: she removed herself from her bed and, standing under the open sky with hands stretched toward heaven for forty-three days and forty nights, she neither ate nor drank nor did her accustomed works; tempted again, she reveals the temptation to the Abbess: but standing, she besought God in supplication until she overcame the devil. For we are all tempted by the devil; but let us hope in the name of Christ that we shall conquer him. Therefore, my Sister, do not hesitate, but tell the Deaconess the matter, and do not be ashamed. When Eupraxia heard this, she gave thanks to Julia and said to her: May God help you, Sister, for you have edified me and strengthened my soul. Truly I will go in and tell the matter to the Lady Deaconess. And Julia said: Yes, do so, that she may pray for you and increase your abstinence. She then went in and told the matter to the Deaconess. And the Deaconess said to her: Do not fear, Daughter, any warfare of the devil which he wages against us. Fight therefore bravely with an immovable spirit, and he will not prevail against you. she is ordered to abstain: For you are to be greatly tempted by him; but fight to conquer, that you may receive victories and triumph from your Bridegroom Christ. And as much as you can, add to your abstinence; for the one who fights legitimately will receive the greatest rewards. After how many days have you eaten, Daughter? The girl said: After three days, my lady. The Deaconess said to her: Add one more day. she fasts for four days: And she, receiving her command with great joy, departed.

[16] When she had reached the age of twenty years, she was strengthened in maturity and prevailed in virtue; for she was exceedingly beautiful, like a true matron, and born of royal blood. Again tempted, at twenty she is tempted again: she told the matter to the Deaconess. The Deaconess said to her: Do not fear, daughter; God is with you. Now there was in the courtyard of the monastery a heap of stones. The Deaconess, wishing to test Eupraxia and to provoke her to greater obedience, said to her: Come, my daughter, transport these stones from here and place them beside the oven. she simply obeys the Abbess in difficult tasks, And Eupraxia immediately went to transport the stones; and there were also large stones among them, which two Sisters could scarcely move. But she lifted them upon her shoulders, needing no assistance; for she was young and very strong. Nor did she say to the Deaconess: "Let another Sister help me; the stones are large, I cannot manage." Nor did she say: "I am fasting and I am weak, and this work is great." But with confidence she fulfilled the command through obedience.

[17] she carries and carries back the stones in blind obedience. On another day the Deaconess said to her: It is not right that these stones should be placed beside the oven; carry them back to their place. And she again confidently fulfilled the command of her Abbess. This work, therefore, she commanded her to do for thirty days, to test her patience. All the Sisters saw what was being done and marveled at the girl's obedience. Some Sisters also mocked her, while others cheered: Act manfully, Eupraxia. But she herself, rejoicing and singing psalms, performed the work of obedience. And when the thirty days were completed, and the divine service had again been celebrated, one day as Eupraxia was going to carry stones, the Deaconess said to her: Leave that task, Daughter, she is exercised with the work of the bakery: and take flour and knead it and bake bread in the oven, so that it may be ready by evening for the service of the Sisters. And she fulfilled the command with great joy and gladness.

[18] Again the devil, finding her at leisure, sent her such a temptation through a dream: that the Senator to whom she had been betrothed came with military force and dragged her from the monastery and, having seized her, departed. And while she lay in a sack on her bed, she cried out violently. when idle, she is tempted again: The Deaconess and some of the Sisters, awakened, heard the cry of distress, and waking her, they said: Where does this anguish come from, daughter? And she immediately recounted the dream. The Deaconess, awakening the Sisters, stood in prayer,

until it was day. After the morning service had been completed until the third hour, Eupraxia, holding a codex, even when busiest she is absent from no divine Office: stood reading while all the Sisters sat and listened. Rising at the third hour, and having completed the canon of the third hour, Eupraxia immediately prepared the services for the Sisters, cleaning the dining hall, making the beds, drawing water and carrying it to the kitchen, breaking wood and cooking legumes, leavening flour and baking bread in the oven. And while she did all these things, she was absent neither from the nocturnal psalmody, nor from the third, sixth, ninth hours, nor from Vespers. For after she completed the evening prayers, she fulfilled all the service by herself and served each one in due measure. Julia also labored with her, for she loved Eupraxia greatly.

[19] Tempted again, she is confirmed by the Abbess. Again indeed the devil, vehemently tempting her through sleep, sent her a very great contest. She immediately confessed her contest of anguish to the Deaconess. After the Deaconess had prayed for her, she said to her: My daughter Eupraxia, this is the time of contest; see to it that the devil does not soften your mind and you lose your labor. For he is still fighting with you for a little time; when he has been overcome by you, he will again flee. And Julia also said to her at the same time: My lady and Sister, if we do not resist him now and conquer, what kind of warfare shall we wage against him in old age? Eupraxia answered: As the Lord lives, Sister Julia, if the Deaconess commands me, I will not taste bread for the whole week, until, with the Lord's help, I conquer him. Julia said to her: Truly, my Sister, I am unable to abstain for a whole week. If you can fulfill this, you are blessed both on earth and in heaven. For in this monastery no one has been able to remain without food for a whole week except the Lady Abbess. Then Eupraxia entered and told the Deaconess about the temptation of the devil sent through sleep, and asked her to command her to persist without food for a whole week. The Deaconess said to her: Do whatever seems easy to you, my daughter. May God who created you confirm you and grant you victory against the devil. Eupraxia therefore began to fast for the whole week, she fasts for a whole week, and she did not abandon the duty of singing psalms, nor the service of the Sisters; so that all marveled at her endurance and at the beauty and youth of her age at the same time. And some of their company said: We have now been observing Eupraxia for a year, and we have not seen her sitting either by day or by night, throughout the whole year she was never seen sitting, except only when she rested in her place at night. For she never sat down, not even when she ate bread. Therefore all the Sisters loved Eupraxia because she exercised herself so humbly and showed devoted service to the Sisters with care, especially since she was of Imperial blood. On which account, praying most earnestly for her, they besought the Lord that she might be saved.

p Megala agonizomenos, "one who has fought great contests."

q Rosweyde interrupts the speech with these words: "After a little space of time, the Abbess questioned her, saying" -- which are absent from the Greek and all the manuscripts.

r From this, correct the error which crept into the Greek: dekaetous, "ten years old."

s Synkletike, from which it appears, as we said above about Eupraxia's betrothed, that the title synkletikos does not always signify a Senator, but often one born of senatorial family.

t Tes archimandritisses.

u So the two frequently cited manuscripts; and likewise shortly after in Rosweyde. The Greek text has 20; but since elsewhere we almost always find one unit of ten missing, which other manuscripts both Greek and Latin express, we do not dare trust it in this passage.

z The following were missing in Rosweyde; they are taken from the manuscripts and the Greek.

y Rosweyde: "with much assistance."

x The same: "she performed the service by herself, carrying things in."

CHAPTER IV

The humble meekness of St. Eupraxia. Her life preserved unharmed by divine power in various accidents, even those brought on by the devil.

[20] A rival arises, There was among them a certain woman named Germana, who was said to have been born of a slave. She, harboring envy against Eupraxia, rose up against her in the kitchen privately and said to her: Tell me, Eupraxia, behold, you eat once a week according to the Rule of the Abbess, and we cannot fulfill this. If we are compelled by the Abbess, what shall we do? Eupraxia answered: My lady, our Lady Abbess said that each one should strive as she is able; for she did not impose this yoke upon me by compulsion. Germana said to her: Impostor and full of every cunning, who does not know that you do this under false pretenses so that after the death of the Abbess you may succeed her? I believe in Christ that He will never deem you worthy to attain the place of Abbess. When Eupraxia heard this, she prostrated herself at her feet she humbles herself: and said to her: Forgive me, my lady, and pray for me; I have sinned against you and against God; forgive me. When the Deaconess learned what had happened, she summoned Germana before everyone and said to her: Wicked slave and stranger to God, what harm has Eupraxia done you, that you hastened to disrupt her devotion? You are alien to the fellowship of the Sisters, you are unworthy of the ministry, and excluded from the community meal of the Sisters. and she intercedes with the Abbess on her behalf: Eupraxia pleaded much with her to grant Germana pardon; but she did not relent until thirty days had been completed. On the thirtieth day, seeing that her pleading was of no avail, Eupraxia took Julia with her and entreated the senior nuns of the monastery to ask the Deaconess to be reconciled with Germana. When this was done, the Deaconess summoned Germana before everyone and said to her: Did you not judge in your heart to cut short the devotion of this girl? Did you not consider that, although she was a matron and of Imperial lineage, she humbled herself and served you for God's sake? When everyone pleaded, she was reconciled to Germana.

[21] The devil, therefore, did not cease to fight against Eupraxia, for he raged greatly against her. One night he sent upon her a phantasm of worldly error; harassed by temptation, she stands outdoors with outstretched hands, and she, leaping up and signing herself with the cross, went out under the open sky, and standing in the air with her hands stretched toward heaven, she besought God to remove the devil from her. It was reported to the Deaconess that Eupraxia was standing under the open sky with her hands raised to heaven. When the Deaconess heard this, she smiled. The senior Sisters therefore said to her: Eupraxia wishes to complete her contest. Then the Deaconess came to the place where Eupraxia was standing and said to her: May the Lord strengthen you and grant you endurance in His fear. All the Sisters therefore prayed for her most earnestly, both because they sympathized with her and because she was a young woman of about twenty-five years of age. And when she had stood until the tenth day, the Deaconess prayed with the Sisters, waiting for endurance; and when thirty days had been completed, for 30 days, the Deaconess began to marvel, and the senior Sisters said: Truly, Lady, she wishes to stand for forty days according to your Rule, which you once observed. The Deaconess immediately said: May the Lord strengthen her in His fear. And when thirty days had been completed, her strength having been perfected through abstinence, she fell on the pavement and lay as if dead. The Sisters, running together, brought her into the dining hall; they were unable to stretch out either her feet or her hands, but her whole body lay like a dry piece of wood, without voice. she is refreshed: When the Deaconess offered her food, she said to her: My daughter Eupraxia, in the name of my Lord Jesus Christ, eat this food; and she immediately tasted it. Then they carried her and brought her into the oratory, and gradually taking food, she began to regain her strength; for the miracle of her contest was great.

[22] When the devil saw such great endurance in her, he no longer approached to tempt her, she is thrown by the devil into a well, but wished to bring her quickly to the end of her life. For one day, when she had gone down to the well to draw water, the devil seized her along with the pitcher and cast her down into the well, so that, as Eupraxia explained, her head reached the bottom. But being lifted up from the water and holding the rope of the bucket, she cried out from the well: by Christ's help she escapes: Christ, help me! At this cry, it became known that Eupraxia had fallen into the well; and the Sisters, running together with the Deaconess, pulled her out of the well. Rising from there and signing herself with the cross, she smiled and said: As my Christ lives, she doubles her labor against the devil: you will not conquer me, devil, nor do I yield to you. Until now I was carrying one pitcher of water to the kitchen; but from today I will carry water with two pitchers. And so she did.

[23] When the devil saw that he could not kill her in the well, on another occasion, when she had gone down to cut wood and had already cut a little, the devil stood watching her. And when she raised the axe to cut a log, through the devil's action she involuntarily wounds herself severely: the devil bound her hands and drew the axe down to

her heel, and it reached as far as her shin. When she saw the very cruel wound and the blood flowing violently, she cast aside the axe and, in anguish, fell prostrate upon the ground. Julia ran and, crying out to the Sisters, announced that Eupraxia, having taken the axe, was dead. When a crowd had gathered with an uproar, and all stood around her and wept together, the Abbess approached and sprinkled water on her face; she is signed by the Abbess: and signing her with the cross and embracing her, she said: My daughter Eupraxia, why are you in anguish? Revive yourself and speak to the Sisters. And she, looking up, said to the Abbess: Do not weep, my Lady Mother; for my soul is still in me. The Abbess then made the sign of the Cross on her forehead and prayed thus: Lord Jesus Christ, heal Your handmaid, for she suffers much for Your sake. And having bound her foot with a piece of haircloth, she raised her up; and giving her a hand, she led her into the monastery. But she, looking back at the abandoned wood, even when wounded she completes her work: said to the Sisters: As my Lord lives, unless I gather the wood and fill my arms, I will not go up. Julia said to her: No, Lady Sister, you are not able; leave it. I will gather it; only go up and rest because of the pain. But she would not comply, but filling her hands with wood, she went up thus. Yet the devil did not spare her; for when she had climbed the upper steps of the stairway, she is again injured at the devil's instigation: having been shaken by the tripping devil, and stepping on the hem of her tunic, she fell upon the very wood she was carrying; and a piece of wood was fixed near her eye, so that the Sisters believed the wood had penetrated her eye. Then Julia cried out and said to her: My Lady, I told you that you could not rest, and you did not listen to me. Eupraxia said to her: Do not be saddened, Sister, but carefully withdraw the wood from me; my eye is unharmed. She therefore drew out the wood, and a violent flow of blood followed. The Abbess, bringing oil and salt and having said a prayer, placed her hand upon her. And again Julia said to her: Go to your bed, rest, and I will minister to the Lady Sisters. yet she does not cease from work: But Eupraxia said: As my Lord lives, I will not rest until I have completed my duty. For she was much entreated by the Sisters to rest because of the wounds she had; but she would not allow it. Rather, thus wounded, with blood flowing from both wounds, she stood performing service for the Sisters, and was absent neither from the service of God nor from any other ministry.

[24] Again on another occasion, when she was climbing with Julia to the third story, the devil seized her and threw her down. And when Julia cried out, the Sisters, running together, believed they would find Eupraxia dead. But she rose and met them. she is thrown from the upper story by a demon, but unharmed: Receiving her, they brought her to the Abbess, who asked her whether she had been injured in any way. Eupraxia answered: As the Lord lives, my Lady, I do not know how I fell nor how I rose. The Abbess, hearing that she had fallen from such a height and was not at all injured, glorified God, saying: Go, Daughter, to your work, and the Lord will be with you.

[25] Again, therefore, the enemy, wishing to kill her, attacked her thus. she is unharmed also when the boiling pot is poured on her face. When Eupraxia was holding a boiling pot in which she was cooking vegetables, in order to pour the broth into the drain and into a vessel, the devil snatched away her feet, and falling backward she poured the broth of that pot upon her own face. And while all the Sisters were terrified at this, Eupraxia, leaping up, smiled and said to them: Why are you troubled? The Abbess, seeing that she had not been harmed, looked into the pot and saw that what remained was still boiling. And turning, she said: Eupraxia, Daughter, did not that boiling water touch you? Eupraxia said to her: Truly, my Lady, it came upon my face like cold water. The Deaconess, marveling and gazing at her, said: Daughter, may God watch over you and grant you to practice His fear without ceasing. And the Deaconess, entering the oratory, summoned the senior Sisters and said to them: Do you know that Eupraxia has merited the grace of God? For you have seen that she was not saddened when thrown down, nor was she burned by the extreme heat. And they said: Truly Eupraxia is a handmaid of God, and the Lord has care of her; for in such temptations she has been freed by the Lord.

p The same: "I assign your ministry to you"; and, omitting Julia's name, he reports these as the Abbess's words. Our reading agrees with the Greek and is from the two manuscripts.

q En to tristego: now tristega are those places which are under the third and highest story of any building. tristega, Rosweyde reads "the third solarium" and annotates that solaria are to be understood as upper floors. Erasmus in the Acts of the Apostles, chapter 20, translates it as "upper room."

qq To zema eis ton katagonta: Rosweyde: "the cooked broth of vegetables into a vessel"; but the Greek text, as understood by the manuscripts, is about pouring merely the hot water, after the vegetables had already been cooked, outside the kitchen through a drain.

r The same: "and may He grant you to endure without ceasing in His fear."

s Tas proteuousas. Rosweyde: "Senior Elders," and again in the following number.

t Missing from the Greek. The two manuscripts: "For she would not have emerged unharmed from these temptations otherwise."

CHAPTER V

The power of freeing those possessed by demons given to St. Eupraxia. A paralytic, mute, and deaf person healed.

[26] The whole city and province, therefore, had the custom Among the sick infants brought to this monastery to be cured, of bringing children who were ill to that monastery, to the handmaids of God who worked miracles. And the Abbess received them, and they entered the oratory and besought the Lord for them, and immediately the children were healed of every ailment, and their mothers received them back healthy and departed, glorifying God. there was a raging demoniac There was also a certain woman in the monastery, a demoniac, bound in the monastery from infancy so that she might be saved, who had a principal spirit of a demon and was bound in chains on her hands and feet, and was foaming and gnashing her teeth and crying out greatly, so that all who heard her collapsed with fear. And although the Deaconess with the senior Sisters had frequently prayed for her recovery, they could not heal her; for which reason they were unable even to approach her to offer her food. There was a small vessel tied to a rope, and by this vessel they sent legumes or bread, and the vessel was suspended from a rod and thus handed to her from a distance, and in this way she ate. Frequently, however, she would throw aside the vessel and hurl the rod at the face of the one offering her food.

[27] On a certain day it happened that the portress entered, announcing to the Deaconess: My lady, a certain woman has brought a child and stands weeping outside at the door. The child is about eight years old, paralytic, deaf, and mute. The Deaconess, seeing through the revelation of the Spirit that Eupraxia had merited grace from the Lord against demons, said to the portress: Call Eupraxia to me. Eupraxia cures a paralytic, mute, and deaf boy with the sign of the Cross: When she came before the Abbess, she said to her: Go, receive the child from his mother and bring him here. She went out and, seeing the little child paralytic and trembling, she had compassion on him; and groaning sorrowfully, she signed the child with the cross and said to him: May He who created you heal you, my son. And taking him up, she went to the Abbess. The child, while being carried by Eupraxia, was healed and cried out to his mother. When Eupraxia saw that the little child had begun to speak, she was startled and dropped him to the ground. The little child immediately rose and ran to the door, seeking his mother. The portress, running, reported to the Deaconess what had happened. She, having summoned the child's mother, said to her: Tell me, Sister, have you come to test us? The child's mother answered, saying: By our Lord Jesus Christ, my lady, this child neither walked nor spoke nor heard until this present hour. But when this Lady Sister received him, he immediately spoke. And she, dropping him to the ground, stood astonished; and the little child, rising, came to me, your handmaid. The Abbess said to her: Behold, then, you have him healthy; take him and go in peace. And she, taking her son, departed, glorifying God.

[28] Again, therefore, the Abbess said to the senior Sisters: What do you think about Eupraxia? They answered and said: Truly she is a handmaid of God. And she called her and said to her: My daughter Eupraxia, I wish you to offer food to this suffering woman who is in the monastery, by your own hands, if you are not afraid of her. Eupraxia answered: I am not afraid, my lady, of whatever you command me. Eupraxia therefore took a cup of legumes and a piece of bread she ministers to the demoniac: and offered it to her. But the woman, suddenly gnashing her teeth and roaring greatly, rushed upon her; and seizing the cup, she tried to break it. But Eupraxia, grasping her hand, said: she prevails over her, and threatens her with the Abbess's rod: As the Lord

God lives, if I put you on the ground, I will take the Lady Abbess's rod and beat you so that you will never dare to do this again. When the afflicted woman saw that Eupraxia had prevailed over her, she became calm. After she had stopped, Eupraxia began to speak gently, saying: Sit down, Sister, eat and drink, and do not be troubled. And she sat down, ate and drank, and rested. From that hour her food was no longer given to her with a rod, but she received it from Eupraxia's hand and consumed it. All the Sisters, seeing what Eupraxia had done, prayed for her to the Lord. When the afflicted woman began to stir and become agitated, the Sisters said to her: Be still, Sister, and do not act wickedly; for if the Lady Eupraxia comes, she will beat you. And she immediately became calm.

[29] But again Germana was bitten by envy, and her heart burned, and she said to the Sisters: If Eupraxia had not been here, would no other be found to offer her food? Give me the food, and I will serve her. Taking, therefore, the food, she approached the afflicted woman and said to her: Take the food, Sister, and eat. But the woman immediately leaped upon her, tore her garments, she frees the rival who has been severely injured by the demoniac: and crushing her, threw her to the ground; and rushing upon her, she began to devour her flesh. When an outcry arose and no one dared approach her, Julia ran to the kitchen and said to Eupraxia: Hurry, Lady, for Germana is being mauled by the afflicted woman. Eupraxia, running, seized the hands and throat of the afflicted woman, and rescued from her Germana, bloodied and wounded. Eupraxia said to the woman: Did you do well to maul your Sister so? But the woman stood foaming and gnashing her teeth. Eupraxia said to her: From this hour, if you are malicious toward the Sisters, I will not yield to you nor show mercy; but I will take the Abbess's rod and beat you with it without mercy. And she, sitting down, immediately stopped.

[30] In the morning, after the sacred Office had been completed and they had come out from the oratory, Eupraxia, visiting the afflicted woman, found that she had torn her garment, thrown it on the ground, and was sitting upon it, collecting dung and eating it. When Eupraxia saw this, she wept; she ministers again to the demoniac: and she reported to the Deaconess what had happened. The Sisters, coming together, found her naked, collecting filth and dung and eating it. The Abbess ordered that another tunic be given to her so that she might be clothed. Eupraxia, therefore, taking a tunic and a cup of legumes and bread, offered them to her and said: Take them, Sister, and dress yourself and eat; why do you disfigure yourself so? The woman took them, ate and drank. And clothing her, Eupraxia ministered to her. Eupraxia did not cease from tears until evening, groaning for her. When night came, she besought the Lord with tears that the afflicted woman might be healed, hiding this from the Sisters. At dawn the Abbess, calling Eupraxia, said to her: Why did you hide from me that you were offering prayers to God for this afflicted woman? If you had told me, I too would surely have labored with you. Eupraxia said to her: Forgive me, my Lady; I saw her in a disgraceful state, eating dung, and I grieved for her. The Deaconess then said: I have something to confide to you; see that Satan does not tempt you and that pride may be engendered in you. Behold, Christ has given you power over this demon, to cast it out. When Eupraxia heard this, she receives from Christ the power to expel the demon: she put ashes on her head and, prostrating herself upon the ground, she cried out, saying: Who am I, wretched and unclean, to cast out such a demon, when you, praying for so long, could not cast it out? The Deaconess said to her: Daughter, this time was waiting for you, because your reward in heaven is abundant.

[31] Eupraxia, entering the monastery, cast herself before the altar, beseeching God that the woman might be healed through her prayers and that help might be given from on high. And rising from the pavement and praying again, she went to the afflicted woman according to the Abbess's command; and all the Sisters followed her to see what she would do. Approaching her, she said: May my Lord Jesus Christ heal you, she signs the demoniac with the sign of the Cross: who created you. And immediately she made the sign of the Cross on her forehead. The demon cried out before everyone: Oh! I had this impostor and deceiver; I have dwelt in her for many years, and no one was able to cast me out; and this unclean and lustful woman dares to persecute me? Eupraxia said to it: It is not I who persecute you, but Christ, the God of all. The demon said to her: I will not come out, unclean one; for you have not received the power to cast me out. she humbles herself, Eupraxia said: I am unclean and full of every malice, as you yourself testify; nevertheless, at the Lord's command, come out from her; for if I take the Abbess's staff, I will beat you. But as the demon resisted and refused to come out, Eupraxia, taking the Abbess's staff, said to it: Come out, or I will certainly torment you. It answered: How can I come out from her? I have a pact with her and I cannot leave her. she strikes the demoniac with the Abbess's staff: Immediately, therefore, Eupraxia began to beat her. And when she had struck three times, she said: Come out from this creature of God, unclean spirit. May the Lord Jesus Christ rebuke you. The demon said: I cannot come out from her; why do you persecute me? Where am I to go? Eupraxia said: Into the outer darkness, into the eternal fire, into the endless torments prepared for you and your father Satan and those who do his will. All the Sisters, therefore, stood looking at her and did not dare to approach more closely. Eupraxia fought fiercely with the resisting demon. And looking up to heaven, she said: Lord Jesus Christ, do not confound me in this hour, by prayer she drives out the demon: that this unclean demon may not conquer me. And immediately the demon, foaming and gnashing, crying out with a great voice, departed from the woman; and from that hour she was healed. The Sisters ran together, glorifying God for this; for a great fear had seized them all. Eupraxia took the woman and washed her with water, clothed her in garments, and brought her to the Abbess, who together with the Sisters brought her into the oratory and gave glory to God for the miracle that had been performed. From that hour Eupraxia humbled herself even more, and persisted without sleep through the whole night; and she fasted for the whole week, as was her custom, performing service for all the Sisters without fail, and she lived with all diligence and joy in meekness and humility.

CHAPTER VI

The death of St. Eupraxia revealed to the Abbess. The deaths of Julia her companion and the Abbess.

[32] One day the Deaconess saw a dream and was greatly troubled; That there was a commotion about her among the Abbess and the nuns, and she prostrated herself in the oratory with tears and told no one what she had seen. The Sisters were afraid to question her. And when this frequently leaked out, all the Sisters began to beg her, supplicating and saying: Confess to us, Lady Abbess, why you groan so and afflict our souls together. And she said: Do not compel me to speak until tomorrow. The senior Sisters said to her: Believe us, my Lady, that if you do not tell us, you will bring great tribulation upon our souls. The Deaconess said: I did not wish to tell what is to come until tomorrow; but since you compel me, hear now: Eupraxia is leaving us, for tomorrow she will be deprived of this life; but let no one tell her, lest she be saddened. When this was said, great lamentation continued for many hours. One of the Sisters, having learned the news, ran to the oven and found Eupraxia baking bread; Julia was with her as usual. The Sister who had come said: Know, Lady Eupraxia, that there is great mourning inside, at the Abbess's, on your account, and among the senior nuns. St. Eupraxia understands: When Julia and Eupraxia heard this, they were astonished and stood for a long time. After this, Julia said: Do you think that the Abbess has heard that, at the instigation of the one who was once your betrothed, the Emperor has ordered you to be brought from the monastery, and that is why they are lamenting? Eupraxia answered: As my Lord Jesus Christ lives, even if all the kingdoms of the earth were set in motion, they would not be able to persuade me she promises to cling to Christ: to abandon my Lord Christ. Nevertheless, my Lady Julia, while the bread is baking, go see what these tears are about, see what has happened, lest my soul be disturbed.

Tomorrow you will die. When Eupraxia heard this, she was distressed and became faint-hearted and fell. Julia sat beside her, weeping. Eupraxia said to her: Sister, give me your hand, raise me up, and take me where the wood is stored, and place me there; and take the bread from the oven and carry it to the monastery. Julia did this and did not tell the Deaconess. When Eupraxia was lying on the pavement, she cried out: Why, Lord, have You rejected me, a stranger and an orphan? Why have You despised me? Behold, the time when I should fight with the devil, she asks for one year to bewail her sins: and my soul is demanded from me. Be merciful to me, Your handmaid, Lord Jesus Christ; grant me at least one year, that I may bewail my sins, for I am without penance and stripped of all piety. There is no work of salvation in me; for no one in hell will confess to You. There is no penance in the grave; I cannot prevail with tears after death; for those who are in hell will not praise You, Lord, but the living will praise Your holy name. Grant me at least one more year, that I may do penance; for I am desolate like a fig tree without fruit. While she was weeping, a certain Sister, hearing this, told the Abbess and the senior nuns that Eupraxia, prostrate in the woodshed, was crying out thus. Julia said: Truly, my Lady, she has heard that she will die tomorrow; that is why she is lamenting. The Abbess said to the Sisters: Who told her and afflicted her soul? Who informed her and crushed her heart? Did I not ask you not to tell her until her hour came? Why have you done this and afflicted her soul? Go and bring her to me. They went and said to her: Come, Lady Eupraxia, the Abbess is calling you. She came out, weeping and troubled; and entering, she stood before the Abbess, weeping and mourning, and greatly afflicted with groans. The Abbess, looking at her, said: What is wrong, daughter, that you groan so? Eupraxia said: I weep for myself, my lady, because you knew I was going to die and did not tell me, so that I might bewail my sins, since I am stained with every sin. Having said this, she prostrated herself on the pavement and held the feet of the Abbess, she embraces the Abbess's feet: through whom all her counsel had been joyfully carried through. And Eupraxia cried out and said: Have mercy on me, my Lady, and beseech the Lord to grant me at least one year, for I am without penance and I do not know what darkness covers me. The Abbess said to her: As the Lord lives, your King Christ has made you worthy of the heavenly senate. And she began to recount to everyone the good things that Eupraxia was to enjoy. And she asked Eupraxia to beseech the Lord on her behalf, that she might be worthy to share in them. For she prayed that she might dwell with her in that glory with Christ; and that she herself might enjoy the same gifts with which Eupraxia was about to be blessed.

[35] Eupraxia, lying at the feet of the Abbess, began to be seized with cold and rigors; she falls ill; she is carried to the oratory: after a little while a violent fever attacked her. The Deaconess said to the Sisters: Take her, and let us enter the oratory, for her hour is now approaching. They placed her in the oratory and watched over her until evening. When evening came, and the hour for taking food had arrived, the Deaconess ordered them to go out and eat bread, retaining Julia alone with her, so that Eupraxia would not be left alone at any time; and having closed the doors, they remained with her until morning. Julia entreated Eupraxia, saying: My Lady Sister, do not forget me. Remember that I have been inseparably joined to you always upon this earth. she is asked by Julia that she might die together: Beseech God for me, that He may not separate me from you. Remember that I provided you with good contests. Beseech the Lord to release me from this burden of flesh, that I may be worthy to depart with you in confidence.

[36] In the morning, the Deaconess, seeing that Eupraxia was at her last breath and about to die, sent word to the Sisters through Julia, saying: Come, my Daughters, bid her farewell, for she has already failed. They came and bade her farewell, weeping and saying: Remember us, Lady Sister Eupraxia, name blessed by God, who has loved you. After all, the woman who had long suffered from a demon and had been made well through her came and, mourning like all the others, kissed her hands, saying: How much these hands ministered to me, unworthy sinner that I am! she commends herself to the prayers of the nuns who approach: Through God and through these hands the demon was expelled from me. And when Eupraxia could not respond, the Abbess said to her: My daughter, will you not have mercy even on this Sister? Why do you not speak to her, who is so troubled on your account? Eupraxia answered her: Why do you mourn me, Lady Sister? Let me rest, for I am failing. Nevertheless, fear God, and He will preserve you. And she said: Pray for me, for there is a great contest in my soul at this hour. When the Deaconess had prayed and all had responded, Amen, she gave up her spirit. she breathes her last at thirty years of age: She was thirty years old; and they buried her in the tomb where her mother Eupraxia also rested; and they glorified God that they had been worthy to have a Sister with God.

[37] Julia, her teacher, spent three days weeping and did not leave her tomb; on the fourth day after, Julia follows her: for she had taught her letters and the Psalter and loved her greatly, since she was her disciple and of the Emperor's family. On the fourth day Julia became joyful and approached the Abbess and said to her: My lady, pray for me, for Christ has called me, through the intercession of the blessed Eupraxia for me, a sinner. And saying this, she kissed all the Sisters. On the fifth day after the death of Eupraxia, her teacher Julia also died and was buried in the tomb where the blessed Eupraxia had been laid.

[38] After thirty days, the Deaconess summoned the senior nuns of the monastery and said to them: My daughters, choose for yourselves a Mother and appoint one in my place who can preside over you. They answered: My Lady, after thirty days, for what reason do you say this? Tell us; for you have never said this to your handmaids. The Abbess said to them: the Abbess, The Lord is calling me; for the Lady Eupraxia has besought Him on my behalf and has labored greatly in her prayers that I might merit the heavenly bridal chamber. For Julia too, through St. Eupraxia, has been made a partaker of it and has entered into that palace not made with hands; and I hasten to be made worthy and to have a place with them. The Sisters, hearing that Eupraxia and Julia were in the greatest glory, rejoiced and prayed together having instructed her chosen Abbess, that they too might be worthy to approach that bridal chamber. They therefore chose one of the Sisters, named Theognia, to preside over them. The Abbess, summoning her, said to her: Behold the good testimony which all the Sisters have given about you, and they have placed you at the head and in the governance of the tradition of the divine law and in our succession. I adjure you by the inviolate and consubstantial Trinity not to seek the riches or possessions of this world, nor to occupy the Sisters with earthly cares; but rather that, despising temporal goods, they may deserve to receive eternal ones. And again she said to the Sisters: As you perfectly know the life and manner of Eupraxia, be imitators of her, so that you may become partakers of her blessings. And when all had said, Amen, she bade them farewell, entered the oratory, and, closing the doors, commanded that none of them should enter until dawn. she falls asleep in the Lord: In the morning, when they entered, they found that she had fallen asleep in the Lord; and singing a hymn to the Lord, they placed her in the tomb where the blessed Eupraxia had been laid. From that day onward, no other bodies were buried in that tomb.

[39] miracles at the tomb of Eupraxia. Many signs and healings took place at the said tomb, and expelled demons cried out: Even after death Eupraxia prevails against us and persecutes us. This is truly the Life of Eupraxia the matron, who merited a place in the heavenly senate. Let us therefore hasten, both Brothers and Sisters, to have such a manner of life and to pursue humility, obedience, labor, meekness, and long-suffering; that we too may deserve the company of the Angels and may enjoy with great joy our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ; to whom is honor and glory forever and ever, Amen.

h Rosweyde: "bless."