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Acts of St Eugenia

tr. Conybeare, 1894

eugenia

The martyrdom of the virgin Eugenia, and of her father Philip, and of her mother, and of the brothers whom she had.

I. In the course of his reign over the great city of Rome, the Autocrat Commodus, in his seventh consulate, despatched the influential and famous Philip to the city of Alexandria to bring back to obedience and submission to government the land of Egypt, in order that all might bow to the power of his edicts, and his alone. This Philip, along with his wife Clodia, and their two sons Avitos and Sergius, and Eugenia their daughter, came from Rome to Alexandria, and he forthwith set in order the province of Egypt in accordance with Roman customs.¹ II. Now his daughter, Eugenia, was sixteen years of age, and shone so much on account of her singular intelligence, being instructed in both Greek and Roman letters, that she excited the wonder of philosophers. Now one day her father asked her if she would marry Aquilinus, a consul. Eugenia answered and said to her father: “The honour of chastity is more choiceworthy than wedlock.”² But they strove to beguile her holy soul by all sorts of promises and tricks.

Now it chanced that there fell into her hands the history of the holy Apostle Paul and of the blessed Virgin Thekla,³ and as she read it in secret, day after day, she wept, the more because she was subject to heathen parents. But when she went on reading day by day the history of the holy Thekla, it occurred to her to imitate her conduct; and having made her choice in the depths of her soul, she set herself to study the teaching of the Christians. III. And she besought her parents to allow her as a favour to leave the city and visit a certain country place; and it chanced that as she was on the way in her litter, revolving in her innermost mind the life of the blessed Thekla,⁴ she said to her eunuchs, Protus and Hyacinthus: “You must surely know all that the poets invent about the so-called false gods,⁵ and all that the philosophers say about the true God? Do we find even in these such truth as is set forth in this divine book about God? “‘Tis a very grovelling and counterfeiting mind which believes in carved stones or seeks aid from wooden images made with hands.”⁶ But whilst they were in this mind, they began to reflect and speculate about the true God and about divers religions, and they decided in their souls that there is nothing preferable to this power.

And as they were engaged in such arguments and reflections as these, they heard some Christians who were worshipping say, “All the gods of the heathen are devils, but the Lord made the heavens.” And when she heard these words, Eugenia bade them halt her litter, and for a long while her mind was full of awe, and she said: “How apt is this testimony to the holy book,⁷ which we have met with in pursuing our road, and have learned of the vain perniciousness of the harmful and misleading cults. But come, let us carry out what has occurred to me, let us see if we cannot in this way compass so lofty a design. Or how long are we to wander round in the cycle of unsubstantial words, arguing vainly about the true God and about unanimity of faith. Here is a plan by which we will be able to achieve the blessed flight we look for, and repel the savagery of the devil, and embrace the faith of Christ.”

Then Eugenia said to her eunuchs Protus and Hyacinthus as follows: “The honour which springs from man made me your mistress, but wisdom hath made me your sister. Now, therefore my brethren, with one soul and with all unanimity let us cast away the empty glory of human honour, and hasten to the service of the true God, that we may not be undone by the opposition of the adversary. But do you divest me of the tresses of my hair and make yourselves ready at dawn. Perhaps this very night will be our departure, in order that our journey to the men of God may prosper. And you must walk, the one to the right and the other to the left; and so put me down from the litter unperceived, and then let the litter go empty. But we three will then hasten to the men of God.” And they approved of the plan, and at dawn everything was done according to the plan.

IV. Now Christ gave His grace to reward their faith. For it chanced just as she descended from her litter, the holy bishop Helenus⁸ was making a progress along the road, along with a multitude that were singing a psalm and saying altogether with one voice: “The paths of the just are straight, the paths of the holy are made ready.”⁹ Then Eugenia said to Protus and Hyacinthus, “Behold ye the might of the psalmists? Consider if that which ye heard from the Christians, who were singing a psalm to their God, be not intended as a sign unto us; for just as we were pondering over the true God in our minds, we heard from the men of God, as they worshipped, the words: ‘All the gods of the heathen are devils, but the Lord made the heavens.’ And lo! at the very moment when we separate ourselves from the worship of idols, thousands have met us saying with one accord, ‘Straight is the path of the just, and ready is the path of the holy ones.’ Come then and let us mingle with the multitude of them that give praise, and we shall be reckoned to belong to their ranks, and we will enter as participators with them into their truth, though it be late evening.”

V. And so they united with the worshippers and began to ask, who was the aged man who alone in the midst of the multitude sat under an umbrella. Then they heard from one of them that he is Helenus, the bishop, who in his childhood frequented the monastery of the Christians, and who destroyed the wild beasts of the neighbourhood.¹⁰ “But,” he continued, “why do I speak of or relate his virtues of long ago, when only a little time back a certain wizard called Iras¹¹ came and tried to turn away the people from the holy books, and ventured to oppose with counterfeit arguments the holy bishop Helenus. And the holy bishop discerned his deficiency of understanding, but being unable to undo him in argument, said before all the multitude: ‘Of what use is it for us to wrestle in argument with this son of perdition and unbeliever? He who believes not in that which is set before us in the midst, not only does not raise the fallen,¹² but by his vain teaching he ruins and does violence to those who have been so raised. But I will first try to save him (and shew him) that there is a God who governs all things rightly and who by the hand of me, His humble servant, reveals the unspeakable message of His might.’ And he said: ‘Therefore let there be kindled in the middle of the city a flaming fire, and before your eyes let us both enter it without shrinking, and let him who is not consumed be believed to be His true worshipper.’ And the entire people approved of this resolution, for a large part of them believed in the magician and took his side. Now immediately the fire was lit and flamed up, the holy bishop Helenus bade that both enter it without fear. But Iras the impostor said: ‘Not so, but let us each go into the midst of it separately; and do you go first and foremost, for it is you that proposed it.’ Forthwith the holy Helenus raised his hands to heaven, and weeping, said: ‘Thou knowest, O Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the living God, who didst appear fourth in the furnace to the three children, that I was not covetous of human glory, but only of the salvation of Thy people, unto whom Thou hast made me worthy of praise, and whom the betrayer seeks by means of his minister to lead astray from the just path over a precipice. For the sake of their salvation I willingly enter this fire, trusting firmly that I shall find Thee there shedding Thy dew upon me, so that the fire may not touch me who remember Thee.’ And when he had said this he crossed himself, and went into the fire, and stood in the midst of the flame a long while, and was in no wise hurt by the fire. When the multitude beheld the superb miracle, they took Iras, and although he resisted, they threw him into the fire, and he began to burn. And the blessed Helenus, although his tortures were well deserved, none the less made haste and rescued him still alive; and he was insulted by all and left on the spot. And he whom ye see yonder continually glorifies God.”

VI. Then Eugenia, with her eunuchs Protus and Hyacinthus, fell on her knees, beseeching the holy Helenus to confirm them also in the faith; and they besought him that through him they might become acquainted with the Lord. But he said to them: “Devote yourselves of a habit to praising Him at dawn, in order that there be granted a joyous vision to thee by His grace.” But Eugenia besought him to pray for them. “For,” said she, “we three are Romans by birth, and have abandoned the worship of idols, and in pursuit of thee have come hither.” VII. And while they were relating their story the old man was silent, because he had seen in a dream all that they were about to tell him. But while he was meditating, they came to the spot and found a reverent man, who had been with him, whose name was Eutropius. He said to him: “There are come and stand in our presence three youthful brethren who have denied the worship of idols. They desire to serve Christ the Saviour and pray to be enrolled in the congregation of believers; who are fain to be made worthy by means of thy holiness of repenting and of being made participators in the pure faith.”

Then the holy Helenus said: “We thank Thee, Lord Jesus Christ, for having made me worthy to attain unto this and to witness this which Thou lately revealedst to me through grace and by Thy holy will.” But they came in to him and offered prayers; and he, when he had finished his prayer, took Eugenia by the hand along with the others, and said: “On what pretence chiefly did ye wish to visit the humble servants of God? However, inform me of why ye are come on a visit to me, for I would fain hear, that I may reap the fruit of your proposal.” The wise Eugenia made him answer, and said: “We were convinced that the nature of God cannot dwell in wood and stones, and we were discussing among ourselves apart, which is the true religion, in which the worshipful and heavenly God acquiesces, when we heard a sound at this spot; for you were with one accord singing a hymn and saying: ‘All the false gods of the heathen are devils, but the Lord made the heavens.’ Invited by these wise words we abandoned the service of idols, and came in haste hither along with a multitude. We follow your reverence, believing in God and desiring to be associated with them in your pious faith and true counsels. But there is one brotherhood between the three of us, and one of us is named Protus and another Hyacinthus, but I am called Eugenius.” Said the blessed Helenus: “Well wast thou called Eugenia, for ‘tis a noble act of thine to pass through combats achieved to the Lord. But know thou this, that God has already revealed to me concerning thee, Eugenia, whence thou art and whose daughter thou art and who are come with thee;¹³ all this the Lord showed to me, and how these men were encouraged by thee to come to God.” And the holy Helenus bade them spend three months in the church and in the convent, and then he made them because of their true faith worthy of holy baptism. And after that he sent them to the convent and confided them to the principal thereof, but he told no one the real facts.

VIII. But now let us return to the time when Protus and Hyacinthus took Eugenia and sent back the litter home empty to her mother. Well, her household thought that Eugenia was come, and they all rushed out full of joy to meet her. But when they did not find her in the litter they with one accord began to weep and lament. And there was a tumult and disturbance all over the city, and there was huge lamentation and violent sorrow, and everyone was plunged in profound grief. The parent mourned for a daughter, and the brothers for a sister, the slaves for a mistress,¹⁴ and everyone of the citizens mourned because of the parents’ bereavement and of the affliction which had befallen the family. Never before had such a catastrophe befallen them, and they sent about to every government looking for Eugenia, and they questioned the seers, and sought out the ventriloquists and offered victims to the idols, and they all began to declare that Eugenia had been translated by the immortal gods. And the father credited this,¹⁵ and ceased to mourn, opining that she was now really numbered among the gods, and he set up a statue to her of pure gold. But her mother Clodia and her brothers Avitos and Sergius could not cease at all from their grief, but continued to mourn most bitterly.

IX. But Eugenia disguised as a man remained in the aforesaid monastery, locked in spiritual union with Protus and Hyacinthus. And they progressed so much in the divine love in Christ, that in two years’ time they took into their minds the whole book. X. But in the third year while they were still pursuing such a life, the elder of the monastery died and passed from this world to his Lord. And after his death it seemed good to all the brethren to appoint the blessed Eugenia to the principalship. But Eugenia declined, for she was restrained by scruples of conscience and felt that a woman ought not to be head of a congregation of men of God. And yet she feared to become a source of aversion and strife and turpitude to those who invited her to take the post. Then they all with one will and accord assailed her, and she returned them the following answer again and again: “In the congregations of Christians ye said that Christ will of His own accord define that which is to be according to His pleasure. Wherefore, if ye so command, let the gospel be brought forward, and let us open and read it, and whatsoever command first meets the eye, let us give ear thereunto.” So they brought the holy gospel, and the blessed Eugenia took it and adored, and they all held their peace and prayed. Then she opened and read the place in which it is written: “Jesus said to His disciples, Ye know that the rulers of the heathen are lords, and the great ones oppress them. But let it not be so in your midst also; but he that shall among you desire to become first, let him be least of you and servant of all.” But after she had read this, Eugenia said: “Make up your minds upon this model that I shall be so.”

And all the brethren sharing her persuasion, she assumes the title of principal in order not to grieve them. For they all besought her to remove the anxiety of the convent and she acquiesced.

But she made herself a pattern of humility; and herself discharged in excess all the services which the juniors were required to perform for her, such as bringing water from the well, cutting wood, keeping the floor clean and ministering to all the wants of the brethren. But she also made herself a little room at the door of the monastery, that she might not appear to be better off in any way than the other associates. And when they came to evening service¹⁶ they would find her already come, and there was not one of all the brethren who was found to transcend her in humility. At all seasons she devoted herself, and was accessible to the brethren, and would exhort and advise them continually not to say anything to anyone under oath, but to use sober speech; and she would say to them: “Let us learn from His commands how much reverence we the servants of God ought to shew. Let us therefore be careful to have in our hearts all due zeal and enthusiasm, for in no wise ought God to be neglected by us; for it is in this wise that a man denies his Lord, who teaches others to do what He has forbidden.” So when they learned from her all this, they were confirmed in the faith, and from morning to night they remitted not the study of the divine writings. But she was so precious to God that she could cast out devils, and to the sick healing was through her vouchsafed by God.

XI. There was a certain wife of one of the senators whose name was Melani, that had suffered a long time from a quartan ague. She came to Eugenia, who made the sign of the Christ on her breast and dispelled all the languor of her sickness and raised her up whole. And after that the blessed Eugenia hastened to the convent. XII. Melani returned and continually called Eugenia, and she in a spirit of pity would go to her. And Melani, not knowing that she was a woman, longed to behold Eugenia from a corrupt motive; and not because she had been healed by her intercession, but because she believed her to be a man, she would send to her such unholy messages as this: “Why dost thou smite and waste thyself with vain labour, destroying all the bloom of thy youth? Surely God does not love melancholy. Does He really bid all men to pass all the time of their life without joy or relaxation? Not so; but do thou come and let us enjoy the gifts of God, lest as those who have turned ungrateful, we account ourselves unworthy of the gifts of God. Wherefore for thy own benefit comply with my demands, so that thou mayest be with me and put an end to all this thy hard toil, and that we may enjoy a brilliant and fair time. And thou shalt be lord of all my possessions, yea, and shalt be lord also of my person. For I am of high and splendid rank and of distinguished family, and my wealth is enormous;¹⁷ and I do not think that I shall offend before God, if thou wilt become my husband, and casting away melancholy enjoy a good time.”

This and the like was the pleading of Melani, but the holy Eugenia arose to avoid such deadly and destructive words, wishing to save the other’s soul from the suffocation of death, and signifying to her how vile a thing is worldly desire. For while a person thinks to gain something by means of temporal desire, he robs his soul of perpetual love and of the delights which pass not away. And it is in no wise right to embrace fleshly desires, for by means thereof the traducer flatters us in order to shatter and destroy the spirit of man. But to these words addressed to her by the blessed Eugenia, Melani turned a deaf ear and would not listen to them, for she was possessed by a spirit of bitter shamelessness, as it is written: “Into the malicious soul wisdom entereth not.”

But Eugenia endeavoured in every way to save her from death and destruction, and shunned her company. But Melani pretended that she was sick in body, and besought the blessed Eugenia to visit her as one sick. And then when the saint had come in and sat down in her chamber with her, Melani ventured to approach her with secret embraces of a shameless kind and began to allure her to impiety with unholy words. Then the blessed Eugenia understood the deceitfulness of the evil demon and the wickedness of the traducer that was in her, and stretching out her right hand she made the sign of the cross on her forehead, and with a loud cry and violent tears and groaning she began to say: “Right fitly wast thou named Melani, for the blackness of sweaty vice and the filth of wickedness exudes and drips from thee; for thou art a daughter of darkling sins and a leader of destruction and a darling of Satan, a flame of lust and a sister of unrighteousness, doomed to unending death, a daughter of eternal Gehenna, a fountain darkened and clouded with shameless desire, an enemy of God, a welcomer of the devil. Away with thy madness from the servants of Christ.”

XIII. But when Melani heard this she flamed up with wrath and she could not contain her shame, and she was afraid lest the rumour thereof should reach many ears and she herself become an object of scorn in the eyes of the multitude. So she went to Alexandria, and in the public court laid her complaint before the Eparch Philip to this effect: “I fell in with a certain unbelieving youth, who called himself a Christian. Him I summoned for my health, for it was rumoured that he can assist the sick. But when he was bid come near me, he began to use obscene and shameless language to me and tried to seduce and outrage me. But why should I use many words? For he was the aggressor and dared to lay hands on me as if I were a slave, so that if there had not happened to be in my chamber a certain One of my slaves, who saved me from being overmastered by his violence, he would probably have carried out his vile desire on my person.”

But when the Eparch heard this he was very angry and sent a large force of soldiers, and ordered that Eugenia and all who were with her should be bound in iron fetters, and after a few days, the number of which he fixed, be brought into court before the people in the theatre, so that he might hear what they had to say, and then order them to be thrown as food to the wild beasts. So when the time came, the blessed Eugenia and all her associates were brought in iron fetters into the court in the presence of all. And the multitude, not knowing the righteousness of their cause, cried out against them, especially those who were on the side of Melani. For the multitude had various minds, and some cried out to burn them with fire, and some to throw them to the wild beasts, and others cried out for them to be subjected to all kinds of tortures.

XIV. Then the Eparch silenced the crowd, and had Eugenia set before all and interrogated her thus: “What temerity led thee to act so insolently? Thou wast visiting from afar Melani that hath the rank of our national senators and was nigh unto death, and thou didst enter in unto her in the guise of a Christian, as being skilled in the art of healing, and then didst thou invite this freeborn woman to acts of wanton iniquity. Surely your Christ does not enjoin on you any such deeds? or is this the service of your confession, to work the works of perdition?”

Then Eugenia made answer to the Eparch, and said: “I have prayed earnestly for this false indictment which has befallen us. I was resolved to overcome my scruples, and reserve for the future Judge this infamous fiction; for true holiness need not fear aught that malice can bring against it; nor again can chastity conjoined with holiness lie hid, for it will reap not only the praise of men because of its light and splendour, but also the honour of reward from its God. For the chastity of the wise is kept safe and in innocence, by those who have made it theirs by strenuous effort, and it nobly guides the soul of the Christian as it were to the love of God. XV. For I will reveal before all that which I have concealed in my bosom. For I am a woman by sex, and because I could not attain my desire and serve God as I deemed necessary and in fair security on account of being a woman, therefore I disguised myself as a man, and in a just and fitting way concealed my charms; in emulation and after the example of my teacher Thekla,¹⁸ fleeing from what is destructible and fleeting I was resolved to attain to the good things of heaven. It was to win such glory and to satisfy my craving after the Divine virtues that I disguised the frailty of my sex under male attire. For this cause and because I was pricked with a longing after Divine worship I took the form of a man, in order that in masculine wise I might bravely keep my virginity intact.” When she had said this she rent the garment with which she had attired herself from her head downwards, and exposed her hidden countenance¹⁹ and her beautiful virginal breasts. But for one moment only, and then she hastily veiled them again with her rent garment. And, continuing, she addressed the Eparch and said: “Thou art my father after the flesh, and Avitos and Sergius are my two brothers. But I am thy daughter Eugenia, who for the love of Christ spurned the things of earth along with my two servants, who, behold, are here, Protus and Hyacinthus, my eunuchs, who along with me have joined the ranks of Christ’s army. And I pray that Christ may draw thee to Himself with such power, that under my teaching thou mayest before all men become in Christ a conqueror of all desires; even as I myself trust to be kept safe and scatheless even to the end.”

XVI. And thereupon the father recognised his daughter, and the brothers their sister; and they ran before all and embraced her, and with tears they clasped each other in their arms. And forthwith one ran and told her mother Clodia; and she on hearing it rushed pell-mell in her hurry and came post-haste into the theatre, and quick as lightning they snatched up a gold-embroidered shawl and attired Eugenia in it against her will, just to shew to all who she was. And then they raised her aloft and carried her away, and all the multitude shouted out, saying: “There is one Christ, one Lord, one true God of the Christians.” But the bishops and elders along with a great congregation of Christians were standing by the theatre and kept a fast until such time as they should be slain, when they hoped to gather up the relics of the saints, that they might wrap them up and bury them. But even they came into the theatre glorifying God, and with one voice cried aloud, saying: “Thy right hand, O Lord, is glorified in its might; Thy right hand, O Lord, hath scattered²⁰ Thine enemies.” But they lifted her up on high for all to see, that none might ignore her wondrous purity. And while all gazed a sudden fire came down from heaven and consumed Melani and all her household. And when they furthermore saw this, great joy mingled with fear filled the multitude, and they opened the church which had been closed for eight years, and the Christians won the confidence of all. Moreover Philip the Eparch was baptized, as well as his sons Avitos and Sergius. Her mother also, Clodia, was baptized along with her handmaids, and an innumerable number of heathen turned Christian. And all Alexandria was like a single church.

XVII. Now at that time all the elders were leading and governing the church, because he that was previously chief guardian of the divine laws had departed to the Lord. So they made him (i.e. Philip) bishop and he greatly honoured the church, even as it had become worthy of honour. But he also continued to administer the government; for he had the power and authority of Eparch, and his successor was not yet arrived. But at once the Egyptians took the cue from him and forsook the folly of idols and turned to Christ, and in all the cities churches were opened and day by day Christianity flourished and increased.

XVIII. But when all this took place under the guidance of the grace of God, the devil, who is jealous of the good and is teacher of evil and co-worker therein, inspired certain of the heathen who were chief men in the city, and caused them to go and prostrate themselves before the emperors who were then ruling, and to pour out before them a tale of envy and hatred against the holy church and the god-fearing bishop Philip.

XIX. To supersede Philip was sent an Eparch, whose name was Perinos, who had orders from the emperors, in case things were as reported, to slay Philip. Now Perinos came, but was not able to effect this, because Philip was beloved by all the multitude of citizens. So he sent certain men to him disguised as Christians, who entered the church, and, finding Philip therein engaged in the service of God, they went up to him as if to receive his blessing, and slew him just as Zacharias was slain between the altar and the shrine. But he filled the office of bishop one year and three months, and as a martyr and confessor passed away to the Lord.²¹

But Eugenia took the body of her martyred father and laid it in the hospice, which had been built by her mother Clodia, near to a certain spot called Tiranas, which was a house of prayer of her brothers for the glorification of the Lord Christ, and they had built it in regal style on the aforesaid spot. And when this had been done, all who were near to the blessed Eugenia as well as her mother and brothers with one accord joined together and loosed unto Rome, led by the grace of God.

XX. Wherefore Avitos and Sergius were welcomed with joy by the senators, so much so that the one of them became Consul in Carthage, and the other was appointed Vicarius²² of Africa. But Clodia and Eugenia went on living according to divine counsels, and day by day they would exhort others to the life of virtue, and brought many persons to God, and they were marvelled at by senators and virgins and were foremost in zeal for Christianity. And one Basilia, a virgin, who was a kinswoman of the Emperor Gallus, of great intelligence and famous for her wisdom, came privily to Eugenia, and, having heard from her the word of truth, believed so firmly that no one could detach her from the faith. But because she could not continually see the blessed Eugenia, she took and accepted as if it were a free gift from Eugenia her two eunuchs Protus and Hyacinthus; and in their company early and late she studied the divine hymns and questions and prayers and passed her days therein. Then a certain bishop, a man fully perfected in holy and divine precepts, came to Basilia and illumined her with holy baptism as well as all who were with her; and unintermittingly he instructed her in the divine writings, confirming her in the faith of Christ. XXI. And thus it was that all unanimously made such progress in the life of virtue, that all were ready for martyrdom.

XXII. But so long as the bishop sat at the head of the church and led it, the Christians were at peace, and there was no hostile agitation against them. But Cyprian when bishop suffered many afflictions for the faith, and one Maximus by name, a Consul, received an imperial command by letter and slew him. But when the bishop Nestor heard of the same he kept in hiding and apart, for he was aware of many highly placed Romans who were Christians in secret.

But one day Basilia came to Eugenia and she welcomed her with much joy and said to her: “This day hath the Lord revealed to me, that blood will flow over the rose-coloured image of thy youth, which means that thou wilt suffer for the confession of Christ and receive the crown and symbol of victory.” And the blessed Basilia on hearing this raised her hands to heaven and rejoiced in God with exceeding joy. And when they had prayed and ended the Amen and were sat down, Basilia said to Eugenia: “For each of us, as we see, our Saviour has revealed the crown of glory, for as to thee concerning myself, so also concerning thy departure from earth hath Christ revealed to me. For I beheld that thou didst receive a twofold symbol of victory from heaven; partly because of the struggle for virginity that thou didst win in Alexandria, and partly because of the shedding of blood which shall overtake thee.” XXIII. Now the blessed Eugenia was delighted to hear thereof and called to her all the virgins, who through her had in holy wise espoused the life of spotless chastity, and invited them to share her victory. And after finishing her prayer, she lifted up her voice and spoke to them as follows: “Behold the time of vintage, when the ripe fruit is gathered in, for ye are my bowels of pity and grape-clusters sprung from me. Convoy me first away and then make yourselves ready with watching. For this is the chief proof of virginity, to liken yourselves to the angels and to draw nigh unto God. For this excellence is love of the life to be, and mother of modesty, teacher of holiness, mistress of repose from care and guide to joy; the goal of virtue and crown of faith, succour of hope and guardian of honour, glory of the soul and rest eternal, inviting us to the goods and leading us on to the kingdom of heaven. There is not therefore any difference in the labour which it will be for us to abide in our virginity and holiness. For these are the seductions of the world and fleeting joys. By reason of which those here below are encompassed with woes and tears. For they rejoice a man’s heart to begin with, but at the last they overtake and thrust him into torture. In the present they lull him into repose, that they may doom him to eternal torments. Wherefore my honourable virgins, who have so bravely run with me in the race of virginity, remain ye firm in the love of God in which ye now stand and enhance it yet more. For that was a time of lamentation, when ye were caught in folly. But ye have been filled with the unfading joy by Almighty God. But I will commit you to the care of the Holy Spirit, and I trust that in His kingdom He will prove you perfect and spotless. But keep me ever as a pattern before your eyes, having in mind the teaching of me that am lowly and following the same all your days.

Such was the tenour of the exhortations which she addressed to them; and after kissing them all with tears she further said: “Farewell, my sisters, for Basilia and Eugenia depart from you in the flesh.” XXIV. And at the same time one of the maids of Basilia came to Pompeius, to whom she was betrothed, and said to him: “Dost thou know, that my mistress Basilia, who was engaged to thee, has been cajoled by Eugenia, and has utterly refused to wed thee?”²³ XXV. When Pompeius heard that, he was inflamed with wrath, and he came and wished to enter the chamber in which was Basilia with Protus and Hyacinthus engaged in prayer and praise. XXVI. Then they took Protus and Hyacinthus, and put pressure on them to sacrifice, threatening, if they refused, to give them to the sword. But they sturdily refused to comply, so they inflicted all sorts of tortures upon them. And after enduring many torments they suffered the death-penalty by the sword. And so they died in the holiness of martyrdom. XXVII. Next they seized Eugenia as well,²⁴ and tortured her before Aniktus, prefect (Eparch) of the city. XXVIII. And he commanded her to come and sacrifice to Artemis. But the blessed one came to the spot and entered into the temple, and having come opposite the image and having spread out her hands to heaven, she remained in prayer a long while. And when she had finished her prayers, forthwith the image of Artemis fell down and was broken into such fine fragments that even the dust thereof was not apparent.²⁵ But they did not comprehend the power of God, but thought that such things took place through the arts of wizards, so they commanded that a big stone be hung round her neck and that then she should be thrown into the Tiber. But the moment they threw her in, the bonds were broken and the stone fell from her and sank. And the holy Eugenia remained on the surface of the water. And all the Christians when they saw the miracle were filled with great joy, and uttered hymns of praise, saying: “This is God who is with Eugenia and saves her from destruction; the same God who was with Peter in the sea and saved him from being engulphed.” But the water bore Eugenia up, and she reached the bank, and she came out and stood on the dry land. XXIX. Then they seized her a second time and put her in prison and ordered the royal baths to be warmed, which were called Tiberian (or “whose name was Tiberianus”) And they heated them so that they glowed like hot iron; and then they ordered her to be thrown in and consumed by the flame. But the moment she entered, the fire went out, so that they were not able after that to heat the royal baths by command because of the icicles which formed in them. And when the grace of God triumphed over these means and wrought so mightily in behalf of Eugenia, they ordered her once more to be imprisoned. So they threw her into a dark house without bread or water, and all the house was illumined. And the blessed one was in the prison twenty days, and a light shone there every day. Then an angel of God appeared to her and strengthened her, and said: “Be of good cheer, Eugenia, servant of Christ; for the Lord Jesus Christ, whom thou servedst with all thy heart, has sent me to thee, saying: ‘Be of good cheer and be strong, for on this day I receive thee into heaven, when thou hast fulfilled the course of victory.’” And on the very day of the birth of Christ, they sent an executioner, who came and slew her in prison. And when the Christians heard thereof, they gathered together and took the body of Eugenia, and wrapping it up carefully laid it in a special place, not far from the city opposite the road which was called Latina.²⁶ XXX. But her mother Clodia went and sat over the tomb and wept; but the blessed Eugenia appeared to her and said: “Rejoice and be glad, mother mine, for the Lord Jesus has led me into joy and into the resting-place of His saints. And He has set my father in the ranks of His holy pontiffs; but thyself He will welcome in peace on the forthcoming Lord’s day. And do thou instruct thy sons, my brothers, to keep safe the seal of Christ, whereby they may be worthy to receive the heritage of His saints.” And it came to pass when Clodia had returned to her house, she taught her sons all the commands which the blessed Eugenia had given. And on the Lord’s day at the hour of the completion of the sacrament, while she was in church and was offering prayer, she gave up her spirit into the hands of Christ, the Lord of all spirits. And when she had thus died, her sons Avitos and Sergius took her and laid her beside their sister. But they themselves progressed in zeal for the Lord with all virtue, so as to detach many of the heathen from their unholy sacrifices and turn them to the faith of Christ; and hallowing them with holy baptism, they were themselves made worthy to imitate the lives of their parents and blessed sister, and mingled in the ranks of the saints. And may we also become worthy to enjoy the kingdom of heaven and praise God, Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. For to Him must all life give glory, and every knee bend of those in heaven and on earth and under the earth, that every tongue may confess Him who is above all, and to Him belongeth glory for ever and ever. Amen.

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