Tuesday, March 1, 2011

March: Women's History Month

As March is women's history month, I am going to briefly write about women saints during the month of March. I'll try not to write about Our Lady each time, although that will be a great temptation. I hope to tell the stories of lesser known women who loved Christ and made a difference in the world.
Of course today is the feast day of Dewi Sant, the patron saint of Wales. In the East, today is also the commemoration of St. Eudokia of Heliopolis, who was martyred in 107. She was a beautiful Samaritan woman who was born in Syria, and accumulated great wealth for herself as a prostitute in Heliopolis. One day, she heard the Christian monk, Germanos, chanting his prayers while visiting her neighbor. She heard him read from Matthew's Gospel, 25:31-46:

‘When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on the throne of his glory. All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats, and he will put the sheep at his right hand and the goats at the left. Then the king will say to those at his right hand, “Come, you that are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world;for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.” Then the righteous will answer him, “Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry and gave you food, or thirst and gave you something to drink? And when was it that we saw you a stranger and welcomed you, or naked and gave you clothing? And when was it that we saw you sick or in prison and visited you?” And the king will answer them, “Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.” Then he will say to those at his left hand, “You that are accursed, depart from me into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels; for I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not give me clothing, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.” Then they also will answer, “Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not take care of you?” Then he will answer them, “Truly I tell you, just as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.” And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.’
Eudokia was filled with remorse for her sinful lifestyle, and asked the monk if it was possible for her to be spared from God's judgement. He instructed her to fast and pray for a week, alone in her house. She did so, and on the seventh day, she had a vision in which the Archangel Michael appeared to her, and assured her that Christ loved all people, and that salvation through Christ was for all people.

She was baptized, and at the age of 30, abandoned her former life, and started a monastic community for women in the Egyptian desert. She gave her wealth away to care for t
he poor, and preached the Gospel message of God's love for all. Through her charitable giving and preaching, many were converted to Christ. This drew the anger of pagan officials, who had her beheaded in 107.

Kontakion (Fourth Tone)

When thou wast brought up from the mire of transgression,
like a most precious stone whose brightness is darkened,
repentance made thee shine again with godliness;
and when thou hadst reached the height of ascetical striving.
Christ made thee illustrious with the glory of contest,
and hath bestowed on thee His grace to heal,
O wise Eudocia, thou rival of angel-kind.

Troparion (Fifth Tone)

O Eudoxia, when godly fear entered your heart,
You abandoned the glory of the world,
And hastened to God the Word.
You took his yoke on your flesh
And shed your blood in a contest surpassing nature.
O glorious martyr,
Entreat Christ our God to grant us his great mercy.

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