Pelagia the Virgin
Saint Pelagia | |
---|---|
Virgin & Martyr | |
Born | late 3rd century |
Residence | Antioch |
Died | Antioch |
Venerated in | Roman Catholic Church Greek Orthodox Church |
Major shrine | Antioch |
Feast | October 8 (Greek Orthodox) June 9 (Roman Catholic) October 5 (Naples) |
Pelagia (Greek: Πελαγία), distinguished as Pelagia of Antioch and Pelagia the Virgin, was a Christian saint, virgin, and martyr who leapt to her death during the Diocletian Persecution rather than be forced by Roman soldiers to offer a public sacrifice to the pagan gods,[1] or to do "something unspeakable (for she was a virgin)."[2] She was 15 years old. Originally, her feast day was celebrated on October 8,[3] in common with SS Pelagia the Harlot and Pelagia of Tarsus.[4] In the Roman Catholic Church, it came to be celebrated on June 9[1] and, at Naples in Italy, she is celebrated on October 5.[5]
Life[]
Pelagia is mentioned by Ambrose[6] and was the subject of two sermons by John Chrysostom.[7] She was home alone during the Diocletian Persecution when Roman soldiers arrived. She came out to meet them and, discovering they intended to compel her to participate in a pagan sacrifice, she received permission to change her clothes. She went to the roof of her house and threw herself into the sea.[1] The patristic sources treat this as a sacred martyrdom rather than an ignoble suicide.
Legacy[]
Pelagia's story was the probable basis for the later dubious accounts of Pelagia of Tarsus.[1]
See also[]
- SS Marina the Monk & Margaret the Virgin, with whom she is also conflated
References[]
Citations[]
- ^ Jump up to: a b c d Kirsch (1911).
- ^ Philip R. Amidon, appendix 6.10 to Philostorgius, Church History.
- ^ Wright's Syriac Martyrology.
- ^ Greek Synaxarion.
- ^ Butler (1866), "8 October: St. Pelagia, Penitent".
- ^ Ambrose, De Virg., III, 7, 33.
- ^ Chrysostom, Hom. in Matth. lxvii. (in Latin)
Bibliography[]
- Butler, Alban (1866), The Lives of the Saints, Vol. X: October.
- Kirsch, Johann Peter (1911), Catholic Encyclopedia: An International Work of Reference on the Constitution, Doctrine, Discipline, and History of the Catholic Church, Vol. 11, New York: Robert Appleton Co. ,
- 3rd-century Christian saints
- 3rd-century Christian martyrs
- Saint stubs