The Life of Saint Eugenia

Having then most thoroughly taught his daughter Eugenia the liberal letters, and instructed her both in Latin and Greek eloquence, he also allowed her to be taught philosophy. For she was of keen intelligence, and so capable of memory, that whatever she was able to grasp by hearing once or by reading, she retained forever. Now Eugenia was of beautiful countenance and elegant body, but more beautiful in mind, and more comely in chastity. When therefore in the fifteenth year of her age she was sought as a bride by Aquilius, son of the consul Aquilius, she is asked by her father whether she consents to the young man who seeks her, sprung of most illustrious birth. She answered: A husband is to be chosen for his character, not for his birth: it is he himself, not his parents, that one must live with.

Therefore, as she resisted with a chaste mind one suitor after another asking for her, the teaching of the most blessed Paul the Apostle came into her hands: and although she lived among most pagan parents, she nevertheless began to be a Christian in mind.

And since the Christians had been ordered to depart from the city of Alexandria, she asks her parents that she might be permitted, for the sake of viewing them, to go around her estates situated in the suburbs of Alexandria. And having at once obtained, as she had asked, and hastening from the city toward the villa, she hears Christians singing psalms and saying: All the gods of the nations are demons; but our God made the heavens.

Hearing these things she sighed and wept, and said to the eunuch boys named Protus and Hyacinthus: I know you to be learned in letters along with me, and together we have read both the worthy and the unworthy deeds of men, and the syllogisms of the philosophers, constructed with vain labor, we have gone through with most scrupulous study: the arguments of Aristotle, and the ideas of Plato, and the sects of Epicurus, and the counsels of Socrates and of the Stoics: and, to embrace all things briefly, whatever the poet sings, whatever the orator devises, whatever the philosopher thinks, are all excluded by this one sentence, which we hear the exultant Christians singing: All the gods of the nations are demons; but our God made the heavens. Confession and beauty are in his sight, holiness and magnificence in his majesty.

She therefore orders discourse to be joined together: and the Apostle is read, and the Prophet is praised: so that, by an ardent counsel, the harmony of the faith, and by what art they might come to the inner sanctuaries of divine wisdom without separation from one another, is determined. Usurped power, she says, has assigned me to you as mistress, but wisdom has made me your sister. Let us then be brothers, as divine wisdom has ordained, not as human rashness boasts of itself. Let us go together to the Christians, and, as I shall order, let us hasten. I hear that Helenus is called bishop, whose dwelling is that in which day and night they are heard singing to their God, whom we also, as often as we pass by, hear singing psalms. But this bishop is said to be detained by the various occupations of his church.

But over those who devote themselves to the divine praises he has appointed a certain presbyter, Theodore, of whom such great miracles are told, that he even enlightens the blind by his prayers, and puts demons to flight, and brings health to the sick: indeed he does not allow any woman to come to the lodging of this congregation, in which God is sung to. Considering this, therefore, I think it fitting that our tomorrow night's departure, being arranged, may afford us passage through them. So then, with you two walking beside the carriage, and the rest going before, I will be set down by you at the place: and, the carriage passing by empty, we three, in servants' dress, will hasten together to the men of God. The counsel of both pleased her: and on the following night, as she had arranged, it was fulfilled.

Christ deigned to show such grace to those who believed in him, that at the very hour when they arrived at the monastery, the holy bishop Helenus happened to come. And because it is the custom in Egypt, when bishops go about the monasteries, that a host of psalm-singers follows them, this same Helenus, bishop of Heliopolis, came, and with him more than ten thousand men, singing and saying: The way of the just has been made straight, and the path of the saints prepared. Hearing this, Eugenia said to her companions: Consider the force of the songs, and you see that whatever they sing in measured voices regards us. For indeed, when our discourse concerning the true God was being held in the arrangement of mutual speech, we heard this sung: For all the gods of the nations are demons; but our God made the heavens.

And behold now, as we take up our journey, by which we desire to withdraw from the worship of idols, and to attain to Christian worship, to merit grace: behold, thousands of men meet us, crying out with one voice and saying: The way of the just has been made straight, and the path of the saints prepared. Let us understand, then, where this people is going, and if they are going to that dwelling to which we have determined to go, let us join the singing crowds, and, being counted among those arriving, let us enter as companions, until we gather information.

Having then joined those singing psalms, they inquire who was the elder who alone used the vehicle of an ass in the midst of the people following and preceding him; they hear that this was Bishop Helenus, a Christian from infancy: who, while growing up as a little child in the monastery, was increased with virtues of such holiness, that if ever he had been sent to fetch fire from a neighbor, he would carry burning coals in his garment unharmed. Then, he said, a few days before, there came a certain magician, who by arguments of words tried to overturn the people of God, saying that this man was a false bishop, and that he himself had been sent by Christ to teach. This man, however, was most crafty, and led the people astray from the divine Scriptures.

At length the whole crowd of Christians came to this man, whom you see, our father, and said to him: We have heard of Zareas, that he says he was sent by Christ: appoint a day, on which either you receive him as your associate, or, if you can, convict him of speaking falsely. A day and place were therefore appointed in the middle of the city of Heliopolis: Zareas the magician came with his arts, and Helenus the bishop came with his prayers. And when he had greeted the people, he said: Now you shall test which spirits are of God.

And turning to Zareas, he began a great wrestling of words: but since he was exceedingly crafty, and could not be overcome by reasoned argument, seeing that the people were greatly troubled because Zareas seemed to prevail in words, he asked for a moment of silence, and said to the people: In this matter the counsels of Paul the Apostle are altogether to be held: for he says to his disciple Timothy: Do not strive about words: for it is useful for nothing, except to the subverting of the hearers. But lest we bring forward this testimony not as cautious men but as timid ones: let a fire be kindled in the middle of the city, and let us both enter the flames together: and whoever is not burned, let us believe that Christ has sent him. Then this proposal pleased everyone. At once, accordingly, a great fire was kindled. Then blessed Helenus commands Zareas to enter the flames. Zareas says to him: Enter first yourself, since you proposed this.

Signing himself, therefore, with the cross, the most blessed father Helenus, with hands outstretched, enters the mighty flames: and standing there for almost half an hour, neither his hair nor his garments harmed in any part, he likewise commanded Zareas also to enter. But Zareas began to resist and to flee. But when the people delivered him unwilling into the fires, at once the flame surrounding him began to burn him. And thrusting himself in, holy Helenus, though half-burned, snatched him out alive: whom the people, with disgrace, banished from the borders of this region. This man, as you see, is accompanied every day, wherever he goes, by the people in the praises of God.

Hearing this, blessed Eugenia groaned, and fell down at the feet of him who had related these things to her, and said: I beseech you, that you present me together with these my two brothers to him: for we wish to be converted from idols to Christ; that, since we have determined this together, and are brothers, we may also obtain this from him, that he never suffer us to be separated from one another. And he said: Now be silent, until, having entered the monastery to which he was going, he rests a little, and when it shall be opportune, I will make known to him all things according to your word. Meanwhile, when he had drawn near to the monastery to which he was going, behold, those within also come out to meet the father, saying a hymn to God: We have received, O God, thy mercy in the midst of thy temple. As the bishop and the people enter, Eugenia also enters, with Hyacinthus and Protus her companions, known only to him with whom she had spoken.

The morning praises being completed, the bishop rested a little, and ordered preparations to be made for him at the sixth hour, that he might celebrate the divine mysteries, so that, having begun at the sixth hour, the ninth hour might opportunely arrive for the refreshment of those fasting. Now while the bishop rested, he saw a vision, in which he was led to the image of a woman, that he might sacrifice to her. Then, he said, I said in the dream to those who held me: Allow me to speak with your goddess. And when they had allowed me to speak, I said to her: Know that you are a creature of God, and come down, and do not permit yourself to be worshipped. And she, having heard this, came down, and followed me, saying: I will not leave you, until you restore me to my Creator and Founder.

While these things, then, were turning in the bishop's mind, Eutropius, with whom Eugenia had spoken, came to him, and said to him: Three boys, brothers, with one accord abandoning the worship of images, desiring to be joined to the number of those serving Christ in this monastery, and today following your footsteps, have entered here: and asking me, with tears they begged that they might deserve to be made known to your blessedness. Then blessed Helenus said: I give thee thanks, good Jesus, who hast caused me to be forewarned of this matter. Then he ordered the boys to be called to him: and taking Eugenia's hand, he poured out a prayer. When he had finished it, he took them aside, and with a most grave countenance asked what they were called, and of what nation he judged it should be inquired they were. To this Eugenia answered: We are, she said, Roman citizens: one of these two brothers of mine is called Protus, the other Hyacinthus, but I am named Eugenius.

Blessed Helenus said to her: Rightly do you call yourself Eugenius: for you act manfully, and let your heart be strengthened for the faith of Christ. Therefore rightly are you called Eugenius. For know this too, that by the Holy Spirit we foresaw both you as Eugenia in body, and how you would come here: and that these are your brothers, he did not allow to escape me. But this the Lord has deigned to reveal to me, that you have prepared for him a most pleasing dwelling in your body, by guarding the reward of virginity, and rejecting the deceitful blandishments of the present time. Know, moreover, that you shall suffer much for chastity: but he will not forsake you, to whom you have given yourself entirely. And turning to Protus and Hyacinthus, he said: Placed in a body of servitude, you have held bravely and still hold a freeborn dignity of soul.

Wherefore, while I am silent, Christ the Lord speaks to you, saying: Amen I say to you, I will now call you servants no longer, but friends. Wherefore I also proclaim you blessed, because you have agreed with the Holy Spirit, because you have unanimously consented to the counsels of the Savior, together you shall come to that glory to receive it. These things blessed Helenus spoke in the midst, with no other witness than God, and he ordered her to remain thus in male dress: and they did not leave him, until, instructed by the sanctification of Baptism, they were joined to the monastery to which they had hastened.

Let us return, however, to that time in which Protus and Hyacinthus, taking away Eugenia, departed. The litter, then, with the beasts of burden walking and the boys who went before, arrived empty at the mother's house. But seeing the boys hastening from afar, and the litter coming, all ran together with joy: and finding the conveyance empty, all at once raised a wailing, and suddenly there arose a tumult throughout the whole city. For who could bear to hear that the Prefect had lost his dearest daughter? There was therefore inestimable lamentation, immense weeping: all mourned in confusion: the parents for their daughter, the brothers for their sister, the servants for their mistress: and grief and boundless anguish of soul held them all. An inquiry was made throughout the whole province, soothsayers were questioned, diviners were sought out: demons too were consulted with sacrifices and wicked superstitions, that they might disclose whither Eugenia had gone. This alone all said, that she had thereupon been snatched up to heaven.

The father believed it done: and turning his weeping into consolation, he gave thanks for the answers, and, consecrating her into the number of the gods, had a statue of her made of pure gold: which began to be worshipped in such a way that they paid it no less honor than to their own gods. Her mother Claudia, however, and her brothers Avitus and Sergius, could by no means receive consolation, but mourned for her unbearably.

But blessed Eugenia, in the dress and spirit of a man, remained in the aforesaid monastery of men: and she so advanced in divine learning that within the second year she retained in memory all the Scriptures of the Lord. Such was the tranquility of soul in her, that all said she was one of the number of the Angels. For who could detect that she was a woman, whom the power of Christ and immaculate virginity so protected, that she was a marvel even to men? For her speech was humble in charity, clear in moderation, free of vices, and shunning eloquence; she surpassed all in humility. No one was found before her at prayer; she made herself all things to all: she consoled the sorrowful, rejoiced with the glad, calmed the angry with one word of hers; she so built up the proud by her example, that she who from a wolf had suddenly become a sheep delighted to believe it of herself.

She obtained such grace from God, that whoever visited her while placed in sorrow, all sorrow at once departed, and all gladness came. Her companions, Hyacinthus and Protus, accompanied her, and were obedient to her in all things.

In the third year, therefore, of her conversion, the abbot who presided over the brothers in the monastery passed away to the Lord. After his departure it seemed good to all that they should choose blessed Eugenia as abbot. Then blessed Eugenia, fearing lest she, a woman, be set over men contrary to the rule; yet also fearing to spurn them all unanimously beseeching her, said to them: I beg you, that you bring forth the Gospel here present. When it had been brought, she said: Whenever anything is to be chosen by Christians, Christ is above all to be heeded. Let us see, then, in this choice of yours, what he himself commands, that we may attend both to your bidding and to his admonitions. And unrolling the book, she came to the place, and began to read, saying: Jesus said to his disciples: You know that the princes of the Gentiles are greater than those over whom they rule; and they exercise dominion over them.

But it is not so among you: but whoever among you would be first, let him be your last: and whoever among you would be lord, let him be your servant. And having said this, she added: Behold, she said, obeying your bidding also, I have decided to accept the primacy, and to obey the commands of the Lord: I appoint myself the last to your charity. All rejoiced at her consent; yet she herself, before all others, took up the work of the monastery which the lowest person was accustomed to perform: to carry water in all things, to cut wood, to attend to cleanliness. In that place, moreover, she chose her dwelling where the doorkeeper of the monastery abode, lest she should show herself superior even to him.

Indeed she carefully attended to the refreshment of the brothers, and in singing to God she kept the order strictly: at the third, sixth, ninth, evening, night, and morning hours she was so most watchfully attentive, that she seemed already to have perished before God, if any space of the hours had passed without the divine praises. So at length in this labor she began to be dearer to God, that she drove out demons from possessed bodies, and opened the eyes of the blind. But since I intend to relate many things one by one in order, as far as brevity permits, let us proceed.

A certain Alexandrian matron, more distinguished than the other matrons, named Melanthia, hearing of her reputation, came to her, because she was gravely troubled by a quartan fever, and had been so for a year and more. When blessed Eugenia had anointed her with oil, she at once vomited forth all the violence of the bile. And restored to full health, she hastened on foot to her own lodging, which she possessed near the monastery. Meanwhile she prepares gifts, fills three silver cups with coins, and sends these to blessed Eugenia for the sake of her nation. But sending back what had been sent, she said graciously: We abound and superabound in all good things. Wherefore, dearest kinswoman Melanthia, I urge and admonish you to distribute these rather to the needy and to those in want.

Melanthia, hearing this, was saddened: and coming, began to beg and to promise more. She became a constant visitor around blessed Eugenia, and, detecting in no way that she was a woman, was deceived by the grace of her youth. Seeing her, she truly believed her to be an earthly young man: and thinking that she herself had been healed not by her sanctity but by some art, she slipped into desire for her, and, thinking her the more covetous of money, began to offer boundless gifts, and to promise even more. And when she besought the same things often, and saw that what she had offered was returned to her by Eugenia with a grateful spirit, she declined toward greater ruin, feigning sickness. When blessed Eugenia, being asked, visited her, as blessed Eugenia sat before her bed she began to pour forth such words as these: an unbearable love for you stirs my breast, nor could I find any remedy for my weariness, except to make you the master of all my possessions.

Why do you torment yourself with vain and empty abstinences? Behold my boundless wealth of possessions, and behold the immense weight of gold, and the abundant store of silver, and the endless number of household slaves: I have the dignity of noble birth, this year I have been bereft of children, succeed to them in my estate, and be not only the master of my possessions, but my own master now. And while she spoke these and similar things, Eugenia said to her: Rightly does your name attest the treachery of blackness: for you have prepared for yourself a great dwelling-place for the devil: depart from the servants of God, deceiving and seductive Melanthia: for we soldier otherwise. Let masters like yourself have your riches; it delights us to beg with Christ. He is abundantly rich who is poor with Christ. Let the images of desire flee from you, for this madness that has invaded you is not for your salvation.

Made into a dwelling of the dragon, you pour forth poison: but we, calling upon the name of Christ, escape the venom of your poisons, and find the mercy of the Lord.

Then she, unable to bear the shame of her own deception, hoping that she herself would be exposed unless she first exposed the other, returning to Alexandria, resolved to go to the prefect, speaking in this manner: I have encountered a wicked young man, feigning the Christian religion: and while I allowed him to come to me for the sake of healing, by which he is said to be able to help the sick, thinking me one of those over whose modesty he raves, he dared shamelessly to address me, and with impudent words to urge me to crime: had I not raised my voice on the spot, and been freed by the aid of my maidservant, in barbarian fashion he would have made me captive to his lust. Hearing this, the prefect, inflamed with excessive fury, orders men to be sent to the places of the monastery, to bring him in fetters of iron along with all who dwelt there.

All were therefore put in chains; and because one prison could not hold them, they were divided among various guardhouses. After this, a day was set for the execution, on which some would be condemned to the beasts, some to fire, others to various tortures. An immense rumor arose, and the shameless report traveled through the whole province of Egypt. All believed it, all condemned them, and to all it seemed likely that Melanthia, an illustrious woman, could not be lying. What more? The appointed day of execution came: and on it all the neighboring cities gathered together to see the corrupters given over to the bites of wild beasts; they were led in chains, and with iron collars, together with blessed Eugenia: and with no one recognizing that she was a woman, the shouting of the people surged with various sentences. Then it was ordered that she be brought nearer, so that the prefect might not hear of her through go-betweens, but learn the truth from her own mouth.

Racks and scourges were fitted, flames, torturers, and the rest of what is wont to wring out the secrets of the heart, were made ready.

Then the prefect Philip said: Tell me, most wicked of Christians, did your Christ give you this in commandment, that you should apply yourselves to corruption, and by fraudulent cunning seize the modesty and matronly shame of women? Tell me now, gallows-bird, what rashness compelled you to seek out the illustrious woman Melanthia, and, entering under the guise of a physician, to provoke her most noble chastity to the disgrace of a brothel? Hearing this, blessed Eugenia, with head bowed, that she might not be recognized, gave this answer to the prefect: My Lord Jesus Christ, whom I serve, taught chastity: and to those who keep the integrity of the body he promises eternal life.

But as for this Melanthia, we could now declare her a false witness: but it is better that we suffer evils, than that she, once convicted, should suffer anything, lest the fruit of our patience also be lost: yet if your Highness will testify by the safety of the princes that you will not turn the sentence back upon her, and that this deceitful witness will suffer no evil, we will now prove that the crime she charges against us recoils upon her.

When the prefect had sworn by the safety of the princes, promising the fulfillment of all she asked, Eugenia said: O Melanthia, name of blackness, and dark Melanthia: you have caused the goads to be applied, you order Christians to be hanged. Condemn, strike, burn: you treat us well; yet Christ does not have such servants as you testify. Nevertheless, order the maidservant to be brought, whom you said was witness of our crime, that from her own mouth the lie may be laid bare. And when she had been brought into the judge's presence, she began to say: This most shameless youth, indeed often caught in adulteries with base persons, was led by impunity itself to this, that even entering my mistress's chamber shamelessly about the first hour of the day, at first indeed he pretended his speech was for her welfare; secondly he spoke from his own desire, and thirdly even proceeded to violence, had I not run in quickly and called the household, which today is witness of this crime.

Then the prefect orders some of the household to be present, to confirm by their testimony that it happened thus. And when each was brought forward, they testified that it was as she had said. Then the judge, greatly moved, said: What have you to say to this, ill-fated one, whom so many witnesses convict, and such evidence makes manifest?

To this blessed Eugenia said: It is a time to speak, because the time for silence has passed. I had indeed wished that the charge laid against me be laid bare in the judgment to come, and to show my chastity to him alone, for whose love it is to be kept. Yet lest deceitful boldness glory over the servants of Christ, I will render the truth in a few words, not for the boasting of human declamation, but for the glory of the man Christ. For such is the power of his name, that even women placed in the fear of him attain manly dignity, and difference of sex cannot be found superior in faith, since blessed Paul the Apostle, teacher of all Christians, says that with the Lord there is no distinction of male and female: for we are all one in Christ.

Taking up his rule, therefore, with fervent spirit, and out of the confidence which I had in Christ, I did not wish to be a woman, but preserving immaculate virginity with the whole intent of my soul, I steadfastly bore myself as a man. For I did not assume a foolish pretense of honor, that as a man I might feign a woman: but as a woman acting manfully, I bore myself as a man, embracing bravely the virginity that is in Christ. And saying this, she tore the tunic from her head with which she was clothed, and appeared a woman. And at once she said to the prefect: You indeed are my father according to the flesh, Claudia is my mother: and these two brothers who sit with you are Avitus and Sergius. But I am Eugenia your daughter, who for the love of Christ have rejected the whole world with its delights as dung.

Behold Protus and Hyacinthus, my eunuchs, with whom I entered the school of Christ: and Christ proved so able there, that by his mercy he made me victorious over the desires of all defilement, in whom I believe I shall remain continually unto the end.

And so the father recognizing his daughter, and the brothers their sister, and the servants their mistress, run to her at once: and shedding tears in the sight of the people, they fall upon her in embraces. The event is reported to Claudia the mother, and immediately she comes with hastened step to the spectacle. Garments woven with gold are brought, and though unwilling, she is clothed in them, and being set upon a lofty tribunal, is raised on high, and by all the people it is proclaimed: one Christ, one and true God of the Christians. Indeed the priests and bishops, who together with a great multitude of Christian people had been before the amphitheatre, and while those who were accused were being put to death used to bury them, now enter in, singing a hymn to God, and all crying out with one voice: The right hand of the Lord has wrought valiantly, thy right hand, O Lord, hath broken the enemies.

Eugenia therefore is borne along in triumph: and lest, amid so great a joy of the people, proof of her chastity should be lacking, fire was seen descending from heaven, which so surrounded the house of Melanthia, that not a trace of anything belonging to it remained. There arises joy of the people together with the fear of God: the Church, which had already been shut up as though widowed for eight years, is opened. The Christian people is recalled, the prefect is baptized while yet holding the fasces, his sons are baptized, her mother Claudia is baptized. He restores their privileges to the Christians, and sends a report to the emperor Severus concerning the Christians, and recalls that the Christians are of sufficient benefit to the republic, and that therefore they ought to dwell in the cities without any persecution. The Emperor consents to the report: and the whole city of Alexandria becomes as it were one Church. And there was joy in all the cities, and the dignity of the Christian name flourished.

But because envy always follows sanctity as its enemy, and malice fights against goodness: by counsel of the devil certain honored men of Alexandria, worshippers of idols, taking it ill that privileges had been granted to the Christians, coming to the king, said that the state of the republic had been thrown into confusion by Philip, who, though for nine years he had administered the fasces blamelessly, now in the tenth year had ruined everything. In short, he had abandoned the ceremonies of the immortal gods, and had turned the whole city to the worship of a certain man, whom the Jews had put to death. There is no reverence for your laws. Any man freely, as he pleases, enters the venerable temples, not to show benevolence toward worship, nor to believe that those whom we worship are gods, but to utter endless blasphemies, calling them stones or metals rather than signs of the divine power. These and many similar things were said to the Augusti Severus and Antoninus.

Who, being moved, issued to him a decree of this kind: "Our divine father, once the Augustus Commodus, ordained and appointed you at Alexandria not as prefect but as king, so that as long as you should live you should receive no successor. Wherefore, desiring to add further to his benefits, we decree that you show the customary worship to the almighty gods: or, having laid down your dignity, that you yield up even your own property."

Having therefore received this authority of the Augustus, he feigns sickness, until he might disperse everything, and give it throughout the whole province to churches and to the poor. But he himself, the prefect, in the fear of God and in the worship of Christ, strengthened others also in Christ. Meanwhile all Alexandria conspired to make him bishop, and the republic began to have him as prefect, since no successor had yet come to him, and the church to have him as bishop, since by merit of faith it had chosen him as its priest. He continued, however, in the episcopate one year and three months.

After these spaces of time, however, one Perennius coming as prefect, while at Alexandria he sought to strike him down, and could not, because the whole city persisted in love of him, sent men who pretended to be Christians, and entering in, they struck him down as he was engaged in the Lord's Prayer. Afterward the assailants were handed over to the prefect Perennius. He, however, being conscious of his own order, committed them to custody as though they were to be heard, but after a few days, by indulgence of the princes, released and dismissed them. But the most blessed Philip, after the blow, was permitted to remain three days in the body, for no other reason than to confirm wavering hearts; for that he might depart to the Lord, he did not wish to be defrauded of the crown of martyrdom, and he himself prayed that he might receive it.

For he who, while yet in the body, put demons to flight, and by prayer gave light to the blind, how much more would he not have wished to be deprived of the palm? He could indeed without doubt obtain what he wished: and so he received it, that being a sharer of the name of Philip, he might be a sharer also of the crown: and the martyrs received as their colleague him whom the Church had deservedly received as its priest. And so, near the courts where his daughter, holy Eugenia, had established a monastery for virgins of Christ, there he ordered his little body to be laid, in the place where the most blessed Claudia was building a hospice, and she established estates which should serve for the reception of travelers; she herself, however, together with her sons Avitus and Sergius, and with blessed Eugenia, returned to Rome.

The senate of the Romans, therefore, received the sons of Philip with all joy: and they appoint one proconsul of Carthage, the other vicar of Africa. But to blessed Eugenia many matrons resorted, and almost all virgins, whomsoever she could, whether known to her or friends, she also caused to believe in Christ, and to remain in virginity for the Lord. A certain virgin of royal lineage, named Basilla, desired to reach her. But because, on account of the Christian name, she could not go to her, she asked through a faithful go-between that she might be instructed by her in the Christian religion. Then blessed Eugenia calls to herself her most blessed companions Protus and Hyacinthus, and says to them: Gird yourselves for the service to which Christ calls you; I shall offer you to Basilla as it were as a gift, so that you may make her in Christ a handmaid. So this gift is accordingly made: and Basilla receives them as it were servants, but honored them as apostles.

She was at leisure with them every hour: and having them, as it were, eunuchs in her service, neither by day nor by night did she cease from converse with God and from prayers. Then Cornelius, since he was in the city of Rome, a prelate of the sacred law, came to her secretly, and baptized her. And blessed Basilla, being confirmed in the fear of God, through the working of the mercy of Christ, she and blessed Eugenia enjoyed almost every mutual sight of one another.

And so for all the Christian widows there was an assembly at blessed Claudia's, and for all the virgins there was an assembly at blessed Eugenia's. But holy Cornelius, Pope of the city of Rome, every Saturday evening, which grows bright toward the Lord's day, gave them a night kept wakeful with hymns, and in the quiet of the night, at the crowing of the cocks, performed for them her most sacred mysteries, and thus confirmed them on the sabbath. But Eugenia and Basilla, as I have recorded, enjoyed one another's presence almost every night, and refreshed themselves with mutual discourse. O how many virgins did the Savior find through Eugenia! How many brides also did Christ obtain through Basilla! How many kept widowhood with ready will through Claudia! How many young men believed in Christ the Lord through Protus and Hyacinthus!

While Valerian and Gallienus were reigning, a persecution arose against the Christians, because Cyprian was overturning Carthage, and Cornelius Rome. Authority was therefore given to the proconsul Paternus, that he should put Cyprian to death. But Cornelius, because he was protected by many Romans, even illustrious ones, was in hiding. Then blessed Eugenia, seeing Basilla, said: It has been revealed to me by the Lord, that you are to suffer for the sake of virginity. And Basilla answered Eugenia: To me also, said she, the Lord has deigned to show that you shall receive a twofold crown of martyrdom: one, which you acquired at Alexandria for your righteous labors; and another, which you shall obtain in the shedding of your blood. Then blessed Eugenia, spreading forth her hands, said: Lord Jesus, Son of the Most High, who camest for our salvation through the virginity of thy mother, do thou, through the reward of virginity, bring all whom thou hast entrusted to me, unto the kingdom of thy glory.

And when the holy virgins of Christ, who were with Eugenia and Basilla, were sitting, blessed Eugenia said to them all: Behold, it is the time of vintage, in which the grape-clusters are cut down and trodden underfoot: but afterward they are set before royal banquets. Without their blood no power of empire, no illustrious dignity is adorned: and you, my sweet ones, and clusters of my inmost being, be prepared in the Lord. For virginity is the token of the first virtue, near to God, like unto the Angels, parent of life, friend of holiness, way of security, mistress of joy, leader of virtue, nourishment and crown of faith, support and aid of charity. Nothing ought so to be labored for, nothing so striven after, save that we live with virginity: or, what is more glorious, that we even die for virginity. What are the most deceitful blandishments of this world?

They come with temporal joy, and depart with perpetual grief: they make a momentary laughter, that they may inflict eternal weeping: they bestow fugitive flowers, that they may bring on more withered ones enduring forever: they falsely promise the security of passing time, that they may deliver over to the torments of an everlasting age. Wherefore, dearest virgins, who up to now have run with me in the contest of virginity, remain in the love of the Lord, which you have begun. Endure without disgust or horror the time of weeping for a season, that you may be able to receive with full affection the times of eternal joy. For I have commended you to the Holy Spirit, and I believe that he will render you all whole and unblemished to me. Do not, therefore, seek my face bodily from now on, but contemplate my deeds and acts in spirit. And having said these things, she kissed them all, and comforted them as they wept, with a most steadfast spirit.

And Basilla and Eugenia bidding one another farewell, prayer being made, they depart.

Behold, on that same day one of the maidservants went to Pompeius, the betrothed of Basilla, and said: Since we know that you deserved to have our mistress Basilla from the Emperor, it is now the sixth year and more since, when you were of tender age, you deferred taking her afterward: but know that her cousin Helenus is a Christian, and that she has been made a Christian in such a way that she will in no wise marry you. For Eugenia pretended to offer her two eunuchs, Protus and Hyacinthus, as a gift; whom she cherishes as though they were masters, and daily kisses their feet as if they were of the immortal gods, because they themselves are the authors of the magic art which the Christians practice.

Hearing these things, Pompeius runs at once to Helenus, her cousin, who was also her nourisher and guardian, and says to him: Within these three days I have arranged to celebrate my marriage, wherefore make it possible for me to see my betrothed, whom the invincible lords of the world, the princes, have commanded to become my wife. He, hearing this, recognized that the matter had been betrayed, and said to him: So long as the years of her infancy passed, I exercised my guardianship over her, on account of kinship with her father and on account of her very upbringing: but now, since she has begun to be of her own right, she wishes to be in her own power. Wherefore if you desire to see her, it will be of her choice, not of my command.

Hearing these things, Pompeius began to burn more vehemently; and going to Basilla's house, he ordered the doorkeepers that he be announced. To whom this message was sent by Basilla: Know that I have absolutely no reason to see you, nor to hear you, nor to greet you. Hearing this, he was more vehemently disturbed; and, availing himself of the favor of almost the whole senate, he prostrated himself before the Emperor, saying: Come to the aid of your Romans, most sacred princes, and separate from this city the new gods whom Eugenia brought with her coming from Egypt. For it is long now that those who are called Christians have done harm to the republic, who mock the most sacred ceremony of our laws, and despise our almighty gods as though they were vain images. They also pervert the very rights of nature, they separate marriage, they associate to themselves the favor of brides: and they say it is unjust if a bride should receive her own betrothed husband. What shall we do, most pious Emperors?

Have gods been found who forbid men, and by whom these things shall be seen, if none shall be born over whom rule may be exercised? Where is the restoration of the Roman strength? Where the renewed contests of the Roman army? For whom will your victorious right hands bend the necks of enemies, if now there shall be no wives to be had, if we lose our brides, and remain silent?

While he pursued these and similar things, and the whole senate uttered this tearful complaint, Gallienus Augustus decreed that Basilla should either accept her betrothed, or perish by the sword; but that Eugenia should either sacrifice to the gods, or perish cruelly: and he gave license that whoever should hide a Christian with himself should be punished. Basilla is approached, that she might receive her betrothed. She says that she has the King of kings as her betrothed, who is Christ the Son of God. And when she had said this, she was pierced through with a sword. Protus and Hyacinthus were at once seized, and dragged to the temple: but as they made their prayer, the image of Jupiter, to which they were being led to sacrifice, fell down at their feet; and it was so shattered that where it had been, it no longer appeared. Nicetius, the prefect of the city, attributing this not to divine power but to magic art, ordered them to be beheaded.

He also, having summoned Eugenia to himself, began to demand from her an account of the magic arts. But she, steadfastly opening her mouth, said: I promise you that our art is much more powerful: for our Master has a Father without any mother, and a mother without a father. Indeed, the Father begot him in such a way that he never knew a woman at all: the mother bore him in such a way that she never knew a man at all: this same one has a virgin spouse, who bears him children daily, even bears him innumerable children, daily joins her flesh to his flesh. Their kisses are joined about one another without ceasing, they remain wholly enduring in their mutual love, and they subsist with such integrity that all virginity, all charity, and all integrity are distinguished by their union.

Hearing this, Nicetius was astonished: and lest it should come to the Emperor's attention that he had listened to her gladly, he ordered her to be led to the temple of Diana: and thus the executioner standing over her said to her: Redeem your life, your patrimony, Eugenia, and sacrifice to the goddess Diana. Then blessed Eugenia, spreading out her hands, began to pray and say: God, who knowest the secrets of my heart, who hast preserved my virginity intact in thy love, who hast deigned to join me to thy Son, my Lord Jesus Christ, who hast made thy Holy Spirit reign in me, be present with me now in the confession of thy name, that all who worship this idol, and who glory in their images, may be confounded. And as she prayed, an earthquake occurred in that place: and the foundations of that temple were overturned along with the idol itself, so that nothing else remained except the single altar, which stood before the door of the temple, at which blessed Eugenia stood.

These things were done on the island of Lycaonia in the presence of all who were following Eugenia's contest. A gathering of the Roman people occurred, and there was varied acclamation. Some called her innocent, others a sorceress. These things were reported to the prefect, and the prefect made them known to the emperor. The emperor ordered her to be bound to a stone, and cast into the Tiber: but immediately the stone was broken apart. But blessed Eugenia, sitting thus, was borne upon the river's water, so that it might appear to all Christians that he who had been with Peter on the sea, lest he sink, had been with Eugenia in the river, lest she be swallowed up.

Taken from there, she is likewise sent into the furnaces of the Severian baths: which were at once so extinguished, that the heat of the baths grew cold, that all the fires of the wood came to nothing. Indeed they made such a void that they could no longer even be maintained further. After this she is sent into custody of darkness, and is ordered to receive no food for ten days, and to see no light at all. But there so great a brightness abounded daily, that when blessed Eugenia went out, it was as though some light were shining. And the Savior appeared to her, bearing in his hand bread of snowy whiteness and immense sweetness and grace, and said to her: Eugenia, receive food from my hand. I am your Savior, whom you have loved and love with the whole intention of your mind and soul. On the same day I will receive you into heaven, on which I descended to earth. And having said this, he departed.

On that very day, the Lord's birthday, an executioner was sent, who struck her as she was held in custody, and her body was taken up by her Christian relatives, and was placed not far from the city, on the Latin Way, on her own estate, where she herself had buried the remains of many saints.

But Claudia her mother, as she wept at her tomb, saw her appear, while she was awake in the silence of the middle of the night, clothed in a mantle woven with gold, with a great company of virgins, and she said to her: Rejoice and be glad, for Christ has led me also into the exultation of the saints, and my father into the number of the patriarchs. Behold, on the Lord's Day he will receive you too into everlasting joy. Commend to your children, my brothers, that they keep the sign of the cross, that they may be made partakers with us. Behold, as she spoke, a brightness arose which the eye could not bear: and Angels passing by sang a hymn to God with unspeakable voices. This alone could be understood, that the name of Jesus Christ and of the Holy Spirit resounded in those very praises. Glory and honor to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, both now, and always, and forever and ever, Amen.