Sainte Eugénie
Vierge et martyre, fille
de saint Philippe (+ v. 257)
Vierge romaine, elle subit le martyre au temps de l'empereur Valérien.
Déguisée en homme, elle aurait été accusée d'un crime qu'elle ne pouvait pas
commettre en tant que femme. Sa "Passion" rapporte qu'au moment
d'être livrée aux bêtes, elle put prouver son innocence.
Les chrétiens vinrent chercher son corps dans l'amphithéâtre en chantant:
"Un seul Christ, un seul vrai Dieu, le Dieu des chrétiens."
Vierge martyre, Sainte
Eugénie a été décapitée à Rome en 257 de notre ère, sous l'empereur Valérien.
D'après la liste des martyres romains, elle fut enterrée au cimetière
d'Apronien sur la "Via latina". Un document du VIIe siècle indique
que son tombeau fut érigé en basilique Sainte Eugénie, assez ancienne pour
avoir été restaurée une première fois par le pape Jean VII (705-707) puis par
le pape Hadrien Ier (772-795).
"Il semble plausible
que vers les VIII et IXe siècle, des pèlerins nimois, rentrant de Terre Sainte,
aient rapporté des reliques de la sainte martyre romaine décapitée en 257.
D'ailleurs, à cette époque, le culte de Sainte Eugénie était très répandu, tant
en Occident qu'en Orient et surtout en Espagne. En Italie, à Ravenne, dans
l'église de Saint Appolinaire-le-neuf, (construite vers 520), la nef est ornée
d'une mosaïque où Ste Eugénie figure dans le cortège. A Nîmes, la chapelle
dédiée à la sainte, est le plus ancien lieu de culte toujours utilisé.
Dans toutes les archives
consultées, sa fête est inscrite au 25 décembre, soit le VIII des calendes de
janvier. Ce n'est qu'en 440 que le Pape Jules Ier institua la fête de la
nativité (Noël) sur l'ensemble de la chrétienté. Donc, dès cette époque, Noël repousse
la célébration de la fête de Ste Eugénie au 8eme jour de janvier. Le Missel de
Nîmes, imprimé pour la première fois en 1511, garde au 8 janvier cet évènement.
Il est resté propre au diocèse de Nîmes jusqu'à la réforme liturgique de Pie X,
au XXe siècle. Aujourd'hui Sainte Eugénie est honorée le 7 février. Dans sa
chapelle, rue Sainte Eugénie à Nîmes, on retrouve dans le chœur, en
soubassement de l'autel, sa représentation dans le tombeau. Les événements qui
ont marqué la vie de la sainte martyre d'un coté, et la plus ancienne chapelle
nîmoise de l'autre sont liés par des anecdotes qui sortent de
l'ordinaire." Article de Philippe Ritter et Georges Mathon - Décembre
2004.
Un internaute nous
signale l'existence du 'triptyque de Sainte Eugénie' figurant son histoire
à Varzy dans
l'église Saint Pierre-aux-liens, par le peintre: Maitre de Dinteville
À Rome, au cimetière d'Apronien sur la voie Latine, sainte Eugénie, martyre.
Martyrologe romain
SOURCE : https://nominis.cef.fr/contenus/saint/310/Sainte-Eugenie.html
Мученичество
прмц. Евгении и с ней пострадавших. Миниатюра из Минология Василия II. 976-1025
гг. (Vat. gr. 1613. P. 270) - https://www.pravenc.ru/text/187019.html
SAINT PROTE ET SAINT
HYACINTHE *
Prote et Hyacinthe
furent, eu raison de leur illustre noblesse chez les Romains, attachés à la
maison (1) de la fille de Philippe, nominée Eugénie, et ses émules
dans l’étude de la philosophie. Le sénat avait, confié à ce Philippe la
préfecture d'Alexandrie où il conduisit avec lui Claudia, sa femme, Avitus et
Sergius, ses fils, et Eugénie, sa fille. Or, Eugénie avait
atteint la perfection dans la science des lettres et des arts libéraux ; Prote
et Hyacinthe, qui avaient étudié avec elle, possédaient aussi toutes les
sciences dans le plus haut degré. Parvenue à l’âge de quinze ans Eugénie fut
demandée en mariage par Aquilin, fils du consul Aquilin. Eugénie lui
dit: « Quand on doit faire choix d'un mari, il faut moins s'attacher à la
naissance qu'à la bonne conduite. » Les livres qui renferment la doctrine de
saint Paul lui étant tombés entre les mains, elle commença à devenir chrétienne
au fond du coeur. II était à cette époque permis aux chrétiens d'habiter dans
les environs d'Alexandrie, et il arriva que Eugénie, allant à une maison
de campagne comme pour se délasser, entendit les chrétiens qui chantaient :
« Omnes du gentium daemonia, Dominas autem caelos fecit (Ps. XCV).
Tous les dieux des nations sont des démons ; mais le Seigneur est le créateur
des cieux. » Alors elle dit aux jeunes Prote et Hyacinthe qui avaient étudié
avec elle « Nous nous sommes livrés à une étude scrupuleuse des syllogismes des
philosophes, mais les arguments d'Aristote, les idées de Platon, les avis de
Socrate, en un mot, les chants des poètes, les maximes des orateurs et des
philosophes sont effacés par cette sentence ; je ne dois qu'à une puissance
usurpée le titre de votre maîtresse, mais la science m’a faite votre
soeur; soyons donc frères et suivons J.-C. » Cette résolution leur plaît; elle
prend alors des habits d'homme, et vient au monastère dont le chef Hélénus ne
permettait l’entrée à aucune femme (2). Cet Igélénus, dans une discussion avec
un hérétique, n'ayant pu détruire la force des arguments qu'on lui opposait,
fit allumer un grand feu afin que celui qui ne serait pas brûlé fût reconnu
comme ayant la croyance véritable. Ce qui fut fait ; Hélénus entra le premier
dans le feu d'où il sortit sain et entier; mais l’hérétique ne voulant pas y
entrer fut chassé par tous. Or, Eugénie s'étant présentée à Hélénus
et ayant dit qu'elle était un homme : « Tu as raison, lui répondit Hélénus, de
te dire homme, car bien que tu sois une femme, tu te comportes comme un homme.
» Dieu en effet lui avait révélé son sexe. Elle reçut donc de ses mains, avec
Prote et Hyacinthe, l’habit monastique et se fit appeler frère Eugène. Quand le
père et la mère d'Eugénie virent son char revenir vide à la maison, ils en
furent contristés et firent partout chercher leur fille, sans pouvoir la
trouver. Ils interrogent des devins pour savoir ce qu'elle était devenue ;
ceux-ci leur répondent qu'elle est transportée par les dieux parmi les astres.
En conséquence son père fit élever une statue à sa fille qu'il commanda à tous
d'adorer. Quant à Eugénie, elle persévéra avec ses compagnons dans la
crainte de Dieu, et fut choisie pour gouverner la communauté après la mort du
supérieur.
Il se trouvait alors à
Alexandrie une matrone riche et noble du nom de. Mélancie (3) que sainte Eugénie avait
délivrée de la fièvre quarte en lui faisant des onctions avec de l’huile au nom
de J.-C. Pour cette raison, Mélanie envoya, beaucoup de présents à Eugénie qui
ne les accepta point. Or, cette matrone, dans la conviction que frère Eugène
était un homme, lui faisait de trop fréquentes visites. En voyant sa bonne
grâce, sa jeunesse et la beauté de son extérieur, elle brûla d'amour pour lui
et se tourmenta l’esprit pour trouver le moyen d'avoir commerce ensemble. Alors
feignant une maladie, elle envoya le prier de venir chez elle pour la voir.
Quand il fut arrivé, elle lui déclara comment elle était éprise d'amour pour
lui, elle lui exposa ses désirs et le pria d'avoir commerce avec elle. Aussitôt
elle le saisit, l’embrasse, le baise et l’exhorte à commettre le crime. Frère
Eugène, rempli d'horreur de ces avances, lui dit: « C'est à juste titre que tu
portes le nom de Mélancie (Mélas, veut dire noir) : tu es remplie de noirceur
et de perfidie ; tu es une noire et obscure fille des ténèbres, une amie du
diable, un foyer de débauche, une soeur d'angoisses sans fin et une fille de
mort éternelle ». Mélancie se voyant déçue, dans la crainte qu'Eugène ne
publiât le crime, voulut le découvrir la première et se mit à crier qu'Eugène a
voulu la violer. Elle alla trouver le préfet Philippe et elle porta plainte en
ces termes : « Un jeune homme perfide qui se dit chrétien est venu chez moi
pour me guérir ; il entre, se jette sur moi et veut me faire violence : si je
n'avais été délivrée par le moyen d'une servante qui était dans l’intérieur de
ma chambre, il m’eût fait partager sa débauche. » Le préfet, à ce récit,
fut enflammé de colère, et avait envoyé une multitude d'appariteurs, il fit
prendre Eugène et les autres serviteurs de J.-C., qu'on avait chargés de
chaînes : il fixa un jour où ils devaient tous être livrés aux morsures des
bêtes. Puis les ayant fait venir devant lui, il dit à Eugénie : «
Dis-moi, infâme scélérat, si votre Christ vous a enseigné, pour doctrine, de
vous livrer à la corruption et d'oser attenter avec une impudente rage à la
vertu des matrones? » Eugénie, qui conservait la tête baissée pour ne pas
être reconnue, répondit : « Notre-Seigneur a enseigné la chasteté et a promis
la vie éternelle à ceux qui gardent la virginité. Nous pouvons montrer que
cette Mélancie commet un faux témoignage ; mais il vaut mieux que nous
souffrions, plutôt qu'elle soit punie après avoir été convaincue ; nous
perdrions alors le fruit de notre patience. Toutefois qu'elle amène la servante
qu'elle dit avoir été témoin de notre crime afin que par ses aveux les
mensonges puissent être réfutés. » Cette femme fut amenée, et comme elle avait
été endoctrinée par sa maîtresse, elle ne cessait de prétendre contre Eugène
qu'il avait voulu violer sa dame. Tous les gens de la maison, qui avaient été
également corrompus, attestaient qu'il en était ainsi; alors Eugénie dit
: « Le temps de se taire est passé et le temps de parler est arrivé : je ne
veux pas qu'une impudique charge d'un crime les serviteurs de J.-C. et que la
fausseté soit glorifiée. Or, afin que la vérité l’emporte et que la sagesse
triomphe de la malice, je démontrerai la vérité sans être mue par la vanité
mais par la gloire de Dieu. » En disant ces mots, elle déchira sa tunique
depuis sa tête jusqu'à la ceinture, et alors on vit qu'elle était une femme,
puis elle dit au préfet : « Tu es mon père, Claudia est ma mère; ces deux
jeunes gens qui sont assis avec toi, Avitus et Sergius, ce sont mes frères; je
suis Eugénie ta fille ; ces deux-ci, c'est Prote et Hyacinthe. » A
ces mots, le père qui commençait à reconnaître sa fille se jeta dans ses bras
pour l’embrasser ainsi que la mère, en versant un torrent de larmes. Eugénie est
aussitôt revêtue de ses habits couverts d'or et portée aux nues. Le feu du ciel
tomba sur Mélancie et la consuma avec les siens. Ce fut ainsi qu'Eugénie convertit
à la foi de J.-C. son père, sa mère, ses frères et toute sa famille; de telle
sorte que le père, ayant été cassé de sa dignité, fut ordonné évêque par les
chrétiens, et fut tué par les infidèles après avoir persévéré dans le bien.
Claudia retourna à Rome avec ses deux fils et Eugénie et ils y
convertirent beaucoup de personnes à J.-C. Or, Eugénie, par l’ordre de
l’empereur, fut attachée à une grosse pierre et précipitée dans le Tibre ; mais
la pierre s'étant brisée, Eugénie marchait saine et sauve sur les
eaux. Alors elle est jetée dans une fournaise ardente; mais la fournaise
s'éteignit et devenait pour la martyre un lieu de rafraîchissement. Ensuite
elle est renfermée dans un cachot obscur, mais une lumière toute
resplendissante rayonnait pour elle; et après avoir été laissée dix jours sans
nourriture, le Sauveur lui apparut et lui dit eu lui présentant un pain très
blanc : « Reçois cette nourriture de ma main; je suis ton Sauveur, que tu
as aimé de toute l’étendue de ton esprit; le jour que je suis descendu sur la
terre, je te prendrai moi-même. » En effet, au jour de la naissance du
Seigneur, un bourreau est envoyé lui couper la tête. Elle apparut ensuite à sa
mère et lui prédit qu'elle la suivrait le dimanche après. Quand arriva le
dimanche, Claudia s'étant mise en prières, rendit l’esprit. Prote et Hyacinthe
ayant été traînés au temple des idoles, brisèrent la statue en faisant une
prière, et comme ils ne voulaient pas sacrifier, ils accomplirent dans la suite
leur martyre en ayant la tête coupée. Or, ils pâtirent sous Valérien et
Gallien, vers l’an du Seigneur 256.
* Bréviaire ; Vies
des Pères, 1. I.
(1) Domicelli, jeunes
gens de famille noble, attachés à une maison où ils étaient, ce qu'on appelait
au moyen âge des damoiseaux.
(2) Vies des Pères,
l. I.
(3) Vies des Pères,
l. I.
La Légende dorée, de Jacques de Voragine nouvellement traduite en français avec introduction, notices, notes et recherches sur les sources par L'Abbé J.-B. M. ROZE, Chanoine Honoraire de la cathédrale d'Amiens, Édouard Rouveyre, éditeur, 76, rue de Seine, 76. PARIS MDCCCCII © Numérisation Abbaye Saint Benoît de Port-Valais en la fête de la chaire de Saint Pierre 22 février 2004
SOURCE : https://livres-mystiques.com/partieTEXTES/voragine/tome03/135.htm
Heilige
Eugenia van Rome. Sancta Eugenia (titel op object). Kluizenaressen
(serietitel). Sacra Eremus Ascetriarum (serietitel)
Profile
Young noble woman. Converted by
and martyred with
her servants, Saint Hyacinth and Saint Protus during
the persecution Valerian.
Her Acta read like a melodramatic adventure novel, but are worthless
as biography.
buried in
Apronianus cemetery on the Via Latina
Additional
Information
An
Old English Martyrology, by George Herzfeld
Book
of Saints, by the Monks of
Ramsgate
Golden
Legend, by Jacobus
de Voragine
Lives
of the Saints, by Father Alban
Butler
Roman
Martyrology, 1914 edition
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Our Sunday Visitor’s Encyclopedia of Saints
other
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Martirologio Romano, 2001 edición
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Martirologio Romano, 2005 edition
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MLA
Citation
“Saint Eugenia of
Rome“. CatholicSaints.Info. 14 May 2024. Web. 8 February 2025.
<https://catholicsaints.info/saint-eugenia-of-rome/>
SOURCE : https://catholicsaints.info/saint-eugenia-of-rome/
Statue
de sainte Eugénie dans l'église Sainte-Eugénie de Biarritz.
Article
EUGENIA (Saint) Virgin
Martyr (December 25) (3rd century) A Roman maiden, proficient in the Philosophy
and learning of the time, who, converted to Christianity by her slaves, Saints
Protus and Hyacinth, like them, gave her life for Christ at Rome under Valerian.
She was put to death in her prison on Christmas Day, A.D. 257. In their poems
Saint Avitus of Vienne, Saint Aldhelm of Salisbury, and Venantius Fortunatus
celebrate Saint Eugenia.
MLA
Citation
Monks of Ramsgate.
“Eugenia”. Book of Saints, 1921. CatholicSaints.Info.
20 January 2013. Web. 8 February 2025.
<https://catholicsaints.info/book-of-saints-eugenia/>
SOURCE : https://catholicsaints.info/book-of-saints-eugenia/
Medieval wall painting on the north wall of St Peter's Church, Farnborough, Hampshire. Early 13th century. Saint Eugenia
Medieval
wall painting on the north wall of St Peter's Church, Farnborough, Hampshire.
Early 13th century. Saint Eugenia
St. Eugenia
Feastday: December 25
Saint Eugenia, a revered
Christian martyr and saint, is often remembered for her remarkable faith,
courage, and the transformative path she carved through the early Christian
Church, despite facing significant persecution. Her life, though shrouded in
mystery and legend, has left a lasting impact on the Christian community,
particularly through her unwavering commitment to God and her role in spreading
Christianity in the face of imperial opposition.
Saint Eugenia was born
into a distinguished Roman family in Alexandria, Egypt, during the reign of
Emperor Commodus (180-192). Her father, Philip, was a high-ranking official,
appointed as the Prefect of Egypt by the emperor. Eugenia was known for her
beauty, noble birth, and virtuous disposition, attracting the attention of many
suitors. Despite these advances, she made a firm decision to preserve her
virginity and remain unmarried, dedicating her life instead to a higher
calling.
Eugenia's life took a
significant turn when she encountered the Epistles of Saint Paul. This
discovery ignited a profound spiritual awakening within her, and she became
determined to follow the Christian faith. However, due to the intense
persecution of Christians at the time, she kept her newfound belief secret from
her family.
During this period,
Christians were being expelled from Alexandria under imperial decree. Eugenia,
eager to learn more about the Christian faith and practice it in secrecy,
sought permission to visit one of the family estates outside the city, under
the pretext of enjoying the countryside. Disguised in men's clothing and
accompanied by her two servants, Protus and Hyacinthus, she ventured to a
nearby monastery. There, she was baptized by Bishop Elias, who had been
divinely instructed about her. Bishop Elias also encouraged her to continue her
spiritual journey by adopting the monastic life, and Eugenia took on the name
"Eugene" to further conceal her identity.
In the monastery, Saint
Eugenia dedicated herself to a life of asceticism, devout prayer, and penance.
Through her tireless spiritual efforts, she received the gift of healing, which
drew many people to seek her help. One such person was Melanthia, a wealthy
young woman who sought Eugenia's healing powers. However, when Melanthia, mistakenly
believing Eugenia to be a man, became infatuated with her, Eugenia rejected her
advances. In retaliation, Melanthia falsely accused Eugenia of attempted rape.
Eugenia was brought
before the court, where it was revealed that the judge presiding over her trial
was none other than her own father, the Prefect of Egypt. Upon discovering the
truth of her identity, and understanding her devotion to Christianity, Eugenia
was acquitted. Her revelation brought joy to her family, who had long feared
for her fate. Eventually, her entire family converted to Christianity,
including her father, Philip, and her brothers.
Despite her family's
conversion, Saint Eugenia and her family continued to face persecution. Her
father, after being denounced by pagans, was dismissed from his position as
Prefect and appointed as the bishop of Alexandria by the Christian community.
The new Prefect, fearing the power of the Christians, did not dare to execute
him outright but instead sent assassins to kill him. Saint Philip was wounded
while praying and passed away three days later.
Saint Eugenia, along with
her mother Claudia, traveled to Rome with her servants to continue her monastic
life. There, she continued her work of converting many people to Christianity,
particularly young women who were drawn to her example. Eugenia’s mother,
Claudia, also played an instrumental role in aiding the poor and establishing a
hostel for wanderers. Under the reign of Emperor Galienus (260-268), the
persecution of Christians was renewed, and many found refuge in the home of
Saint Eugenia and her mother.
One of the women
converted by Saint Eugenia was Basilla, an orphaned Roman girl of noble
lineage. Upon hearing about the Christian faith, Basilla sent a servant to
Eugenia, asking for a letter explaining Christian teachings. In response,
Eugenia sent her companions, Protus and Hyacinthus, who baptized Basilla. When
Basilla’s fiancé, Pompey, learned that she had converted, he grew enraged and
complained to the emperor about the Christians' teachings, especially their
views on celibacy. Refusing to marry Pompey, Basilla was martyred by sword.
The persecution escalated
further, and the authorities sought to force Eugenia and her companions to
renounce their faith. They were dragged to a pagan temple dedicated to Diana,
but as they approached, the idol within the temple fell and shattered. Despite
this miraculous sign, they were forced into further trials. Saint Eugenia was
thrown into the Tiber River with a stone around her neck, but the stone
miraculously came untied, and she was unharmed. She was then cast into a fire,
but again emerged unscathed. Finally, she was thrown into a pit, where she
endured suffering for ten days. During this time, she had a vision of Christ,
who assured her that she would join His heavenly Kingdom on the day of His
birth.
On the feast of Christ's
Nativity, Saint Eugenia was beheaded, marking the end of her earthly journey
and her entrance into eternal life. Her death was not the end of her witness,
as her mother later reported a vision of Saint Eugenia, who foretold her own
death. Saint Eugenia’s legacy continued to inspire many through the centuries,
especially among women in the early Church.
Saint Eugenia’s life is a
testament to her deep faith, her courage in the face of trials, and her
transformative role in spreading Christianity in a hostile environment. She is
remembered as a patron of those who face persecution for their faith and is
honored as a martyr and a saint. Her feast day is celebrated in the Christian
liturgical calendar, particularly on the day of her martyrdom, December 25.
Through her example, Saint Eugenia reminds believers of the power of conviction
and the strength found in remaining steadfast in one's faith, even when faced
with overwhelming adversity.
SOURCE : https://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=629
.jpg)
Statue de sainte Eugénie, Église de Larmor-Baden
St. Eugenia, Virgin and Martyr
SHE suffered at Rome under Valerian about the year 257, and is mentioned by St. Avitus, 1 though we have no authentic acts of her sufferings, those recited by Metaphrastes and Surius deserving no notice. She is also mentioned in the lives of SS. Protus and Hyacinthus, MM. on the 11th of September, p. 116.
Note 1. S. Avitus de
Virgin. l. 6, p. 1312. [back]
Rev. Alban Butler (1711–73). Volume XII: December. The Lives of the Saints. 1866.
SOURCE : https://www.bartleby.com/210/12/253.html
Sainte
Eugénie, vitrail, église de Larmor-Baden
Article
Here beginneth the Life of Saint Eugenia.
Eugenia, the noble
virgin, which was daughter to Philip, duke of Alexandria, which for the emperor
of Rome governed all the land of Egypt. Eugenia issued privily out of her
father’s palace with two servants, and she went into an abbey in the habit and
array of a man, in which abbey she Ied so holy a life that at the last she was
made abbot of the same. It happed so that no man knew that she was a woman, yet
there was a lady accused her of adultery tofore the judge which was her own
father. Eugenia was put in prison for to be judged to death. At the last she
said to her father much thing for to draw him to the faith of Jesu Christ. She
rent her coat and showed to him that she was a woman and daughter of him that
held her in prison, and so she converted her father unto the christian faith.
And he was after an holy bishop, and at the hour that he sang his mass he was
beheaded for the faith of Jesu Christ; and the lady that had falsely accused
Eugenia was burnt with fire of hell with all her party. And after that, Claudia
and her children came to Rome, and much people were by them converted, and many
virgins by Eugenia, which Eugenia was much tormented in divers manners, and at
the last by the sword accomplished her martyrdom, and thus made the offering of
her proper body to our Lord Jesu Christ, qui est benedictus in secula
seculorum. Amen.
SOURCE : https://catholicsaints.info/golden-legend-saint-eugenia/
Saint
Eugenia church in Barcelos, Portugal
An
Old English Martyrology – December 26 – Saint Eugenia
Article
On the first day is the
festival of the noble virgin Saint Eugenia; she lived in the time of the
emperor Commodus and loved Christ before she was baptised. She was the daughter
of a very distinguished man, Philippus by name; he was the prefect of the great
town called Alexandria, and all the people of Egypt obeyed him. When the maiden
was fifteen years old, her father wanted to give her in wedlock to a certain
nobleman. At night she cut off her hair as men do, and took men’s garments and
left her father’s province with two servants. Then she went into a convent of
men where no woman ever came before, and she received baptism and served God
and lived with them, so that nobody could find out that she was a woman. Within
three years she became the abbot of this convent, and she was so powerful with
God that she restored the eyesight of blind men and cured the insane. After
many years she was recognised by her father and her brothers, and since she
lived with women in their fashion; after her father’s death she went to Rome
with her mother, and there she suffered martyrdom for Christ. Necitius, the
town-reeve of Rome, urged her to renounce Christ and to believe in the idols.
As she refused this, a stone was fastened to her neck by his command, and she
was thrown into the river Tiber; then the stone burst, and she floated to the
land across the water. Then he ordered her to be thrown into a burning oven,
and it cooled down at once. Then he commanded her to be put into prison, and
she was there ten days and nights without food. The Lord appeared to her in the
night when he was born, and said to her: ‘I shall take thee away, Eugenia, I am
he whom thou lovedest; I ascended to heaven on the same day on which I came on
earth.’ On the same day she gave up her ghost to God, and her body rests near
Rome on the road called Latina.
MLA
Citation
George Herzfeld.
“December 26 – Saint Eugenia”. An Old English
Martyrology, 1900. CatholicSaints.Info.
14 May 2024. Web. 8 February 2025.
<https://catholicsaints.info/an-old-english-martyrology-december-26-saint-eugenia/>
SOURCE : https://catholicsaints.info/an-old-english-martyrology-december-26-saint-eugenia/
Katholische
Pfarrkirche Saint-Martin in Herblay,
einer Gemeinde im Département Val d'Oise (Île de France), Bleiglasfenster,
Darstellung: hl. Eugenia von Rom
Saint Eugenia: The Iconography
In Rome, in the Apronian cemetery, Saint Eugenia, Virgin and daughter of the blessed martyr Philippus. In the time of the Emperor Galienus she was renowned for her many virtues and brought many other virgins to Christ. Then under the Prefect Nicetius she suffered lengthy tortures and was finally put to the sword. – Roman Martyrology for December 25
According to the Golden Legend Eugenia was the daughter of a prominent Roman who was posted to Alexandria in the third century.
In Alexandria she became an accomplished student of pagan philosophy, which she studied with two companions named Protus and Hyacinthus. However, she was also looking into the writings of St. Paul when one day she and her companions heard Christians singing a hymn to the one Creator. This led the three to convert to Christianity, and Eugenia subsequently entered a monastery – presenting herself as a man because women were not allowed.
Some years later she was brought on charges before the prefect of Alexandria, her own father, who had thought she was dead. The discovery led to the old man's conversion, eventual selection as bishop of Alexandria, and finally his martyrdom.
Eugenia then traveled to Rome and converted many. During the persecution of Valerian she was tied to a great stone and cast into the Tiber. This did not work, so the executioners put her into a roaring fire. Failing that, they shut her up in a dark cell without food, but Christ illuminated the cell and brought her a shining white loaf. At last she was beheaded on the feast of the Nativity, December 25.
The recovery of a lost
daughter and the voyages between famous places, added to the usual miraculous
escapes from death, are characteristic of the genre of "hagiographic
romance" (Stouck 517
et seq.), but there is some basis for believing that Eugenia was "an
authentic Roman martyr" (Butler,
IV, 612).
Eugenia's Wikipedia page
has an Orthodox icon in which she holds a cross and a scroll, but these are so
common in Orthodox images that they cannot be considered attributes of this
particular saint. Nor do attributes appear in the few Western images I have
found.
Prepared in 2014 by
Richard Stracke, Emeritus Professor of English, Augusta University, revised
2015-10-30.
DATES
December 25 for Roman
Catholics, December 24 for Orthodox.
Eugenia died in 256.
HAGIOGRAPHY
8th century: John of
Stylite's vita, in Select
Narratives, 1-35.
13th century: Golden
Legend #136 (Protus and Hyacinth): html or pdf.
SOURCE : https://www.christianiconography.info/eugenia.html
Griechische
Ikone der heiligen Eugenia
St. Eugenia of Rome -
Feast Day December 24th
The best of scriptwriters
would be hard pressed to match, let alone exceed, the true to life story of a
second century woman who resorted to what might have been called excesses had
it not been for the fact that her fervor emanated from a firm resolve to serve
Jesus Christ. At a time when society confined most women to the home, this
incredible female expressed her independence with such resourcefulness that she
showed herself not only the equal to any man, but better than most, in a
religious commitment that brought her sainthood.
This wholly dedicated
woman was aptly named Eugenia, which is the Greek word for noble, an adjective
that falls short of describing her astounding character, one that seldom is
attained by either sex. She was born in 280, the daughter of the Duke of
Alexandria, Egypt, whose name was Philip and who ruled in the name of the
emperor in the land of Pharaohs. She enjoyed every privilege, except that
reserved for men, who were free to choose their way of life. A woman of high
rank or low as expected to no more wear the churchman scowl than she was a
warrior's armor and there was relatively little a Christian woman could do by
way of active participation in the affairs of the church. Theirs was a passive
role in tins early century of Christianity, unless they happened to be martyred
for not denying the Savior they worshipped without actively serving.
Eugenia was not born a
Christian but was converted in her youth without the knowledge of her parents
who were strongly opposed to the new religion. When it came time to screen
suitors for the inevitable marriage, usually one of convenience for the
aristocracy, Eugenia slipped away, accompanied by a pair of faithful servants,
Protas and Hyakinthos, who escorted her to an area far enough removed from her
home to assure obscurity. Nearby was a monastery upon which Eugenia would look
with a longing to serve Christ, only to be reminded that only men could serve
within this cloister. She hit upon the idea of posing as a man and after some
persuasion, convinced her two servants to cut her tresses and accompany her to
the monastery to help in her admission. The deception was an immediate failure
because the perceptive Abbot Helenon saw at once the delicate features and
found no trace of masculinity in the lowered voice of the applicant. He was so
moved, however, by her sincerity that he provided for her stay there, isolating
her in a cell where she remained for a number of years in meditation and prayer
and in all the studies required of a monk. Finally, she was actually tonsured a
monk and any doubt as to her proximity to God were erased when she was found to
have the power of healing.
Eugenia left the confines
of the monastery from time to time in order to be among her fellow Christians
and it was during one of these visits that she fell prey to prowling state
soldier ever on the alert for church leaders. Arrested on the usual charge of
treason, she was summoned before the duke of judgment which customarily offered
a choice between denying Christ or death. In a dramatic moment the father
recognized his accused daughter, whom he had presumed dead and tearfully
embraced her, dismissing the entire court to be alone with her.
The joy of being reunited
with his daughter brought the even greater joy of learning from her lips about
Christianity, with the result that Eugenia converted her father to
Christianity. This amazing turn of events became all the: more amazing when it
is realized that this very same pagan Duke Philip turned to Christ with so much
genuine love that he became a churchman himself and rose to be the archbishop
of Alexandria. It was a far higher calling but far less rewarding in earthly
considerations. Sought after by the very people who in prior years had sought
only to protect him, he was assassinated.
Meanwhile Eugenia had
gone to Rome to be in the heart of the political and cultural center of the
world where she won so many converts to Christianity that she, too, became a
target for the pagan state. When finally caught, she remained steadfast in her
faith and met death by sword, after which her body was thrown into the Tiber
River, only to be recovered by Christians. Although she was martyred on
December 25, her memory is observed a day earlier.
Taken from Orthodox
Saints by George Poulos.
For a description of this
icon and the troparion and kontakion for this saint please click
here
SOURCE : http://www.stlukeorthodox.com/html/saints/steugeniaofrome.cfm
Statue
de Sainte-Eugénie, église Sainte-Agnès à Tréfumel, Côtes-d'Armor.
Nun-Martyr Eugenia of
Rome
Commemorated on December
24
The Holy Martyr Eugenia,
was a Roman by birth. She lived at Alexandria, where her father Philip was sent
by the emperor Commodus (180-192) to be Prefect of Egypt. Eugenia received a
fine upbringing and was noted for her beauty and good disposition. Many illustrious
youths sought her hand, but she did not wish to marry anyone, for she was
determined to preserve her virginity.
Providentially, she
became acquainted with the Epistles of the Apostle Paul. She yearned with all
her soul to become a Christian, but kept this a secret from her parents. At
that time, Christians were banished from Alexandria by the command of the
emperor. Wishing to learn more about Christian teachings, she asked permission
to visit one of the family estates outside the city, supposedly to enjoy the
countryside. She left in the company of her two servants Protus and Hyacinthus,
dressed in men’s clothes. She and her companions were baptized at a certain
monastery by Bishop Elias (July 14), who learned about her in a vision. He
blessed her to pursue asceticism at the monastery disguised as the monk Eugene.
By her ascetic labors,
Saint Eugenia acquired the gift of healing. Once, a rich young woman named
Melanthia turned to her for help. Seeing “Eugene,” this woman burned with an
impure passion, and when she was spurned, she falsely accused the saint of
attempted rape. Saint Eugenia came to trial before the Prefect of Egypt (her
father), and she was forced to reveal her secret. Her parents and brothers
rejoiced to find the one for whom they had long grieved.
After a while they all
accepted holy Baptism. But Philip, after being denounced by pagans, was
dismissed from his post. The Alexandrian Christians chose him as their bishop.
The new Prefect, fearing the wrath of the people, did not dare to execute
Philip openly, but sent assassins to kill him. They inflicted wounds upon Saint
Philip while he was praying, from which he died three days later.
Saint Claudia went to
Rome with her sons, daughter, and her servants. There Saint Eugenia continued
with monastic life, and brought many young women to Christ. Claudia built a
wanderers’ hostel and aided the poor. After several peaceful years, the emperor
Galienus (260-268) intensified the persecution against Christians, and many of
them found refuge with Saints Claudia and Eugenia.
Basilla, an orphaned
Roman girl of imperial lineage, heard about the Christians and Saint Eugenia.
She sent a trusted servant to the saint asking her to write her a letter
explaining Christian teachings. Saint Eugenia sent her friends and co-ascetics,
Protus and Hyacinthus, who enlightened Basilla, and she accepted holy Baptism.
Basilla’s servant then
told her fiancé Pompey that his betrothed had become a Christian. Pompey then
complained to the emperor against the Christians for preaching celibacy and
denouncing idolatry. Basilla refused to enter into marriage with Pompey, and so
they killed her with a sword.
They dragged Saints
Protus and Hyacinthus into a temple to make them sacrifice to the idols, but
just as they entered, the idol fell down and was shattered. The holy Martyrs
Protus and Hyacinthus were beheaded. They also brought Saint Eugenia to the
temple of Diana by force, but she had not even entered it, when the pagan
temple collapsed with its idol.
They threw the holy
martyr into the Tiber with a stone about her neck, but the stone became untied
and she remained unharmed. She also remained unscathed in the fire. Then they
cast her into a pit, where she remained for ten days. During this time the
Savior Himself appeared to her and said that she would enter into the heavenly
Kingdom on the day He was born. When this radiant Feast came, the executioner
put her to death with a sword. After her death, Saint Eugenia appeared to her
mother to tell her beforehand the day of her own death.
SOURCE : https://www.oca.org/saints/lives/2018/12/24/103631-nun-martyr-eugenia-of-rome
Statua
di Santa Eugenia di Roma nella cripta della Basilica dei Santi Apostoli in
Roma.
Sant' Eugenia di Roma Martire
Etimologia: Eugenia
= ben nata, di nobile stirpe, dal greco
Emblema: Palma
Martirologio
Romano: Sempre a Roma nel cimitero di Aproniano sulla via Latina, santa
Eugenia, martire.
Il racconto della Vita di
s. Eugenia (Passio) ebbe nell’antichità un successo incredibile, visto le
versioni in lingua greca, armena, siriaca, etiopica.
Essa era figlia del
nobile romano Filippo il quale per ordine dell’imperatore Commodo fu nominato
prefetto di Alessandria d’Egitto, sede che raggiunse con tutta la famiglia. Ad
Alessandria, Eugenia rifiutò le nozze con Aquilio, figlio del console e aiutata
dagli eunuchi Proto e Giacinto, suoi educatori, entrò di nascosto vestita da
uomo in un monastero, che allora erano solo maschili.
La sua famiglia la
credette dispersa e morta; nel monastero con il nome di Eugenio si distinse per
eccezionali virtù, per cui i monaci lo elessero loro abate. Una nobile matrona,
Melanzia attratta dalla fama di santità, volle conoscere l’abate, ma se ne innamorò
non sospettando che fosse una donna, respinta, Melanzia piena di odio denunciò
l’abate per proposte immorali. Fu iniziato un processo durante il quale la vera
identità di Eugenia venne fuori con grande gioia della famiglia, la quale si
convertì al Cristianesimo.
Il padre Filippo si
distinse per l’aiuto ai poveri al punto che gli alessandrini lo vollero vescovo
della città; il nuovo prefetto lo fece uccidere perché cristiano; il resto
della famiglia si trasferì a Roma dove la madre Claudia istituì un asceterio
per vedove ed Eugenia si interessava delle giovani, fra queste una certa
Bassilla parente dell’imperatore Gallieno fu affidata ai due eunuchi Proto e
Giacinto per essere educata cristianamente. Il fidanzato di Bassilla, Pompeio
essendo stato rifiutato si vendicò denunziando tutti all’imperatore, il quale
fece uccidere Bassilla, Proto e Giacinto e successivamente il 25 dicembre anche
Eugenia, la madre Claudia la seguì dopo non molto tempo.
Il racconto abbastanza
fantasioso, pur intessuto da personaggi storici, non è legato con i tempi ed i
luoghi, anzi gli stessi personaggi non dovrebbero avere un vero legame fra
loro. Eugenia è certamente una martire romana e il suo sepolcro è vicino a
quello di Proto, Giacinto e Bassilla. A Roma fu costruita sul suo sepolcro una
basilica, è raffigurata nei mosaici di Ravenna, di Napoli e della Grecia.
Oggi le reliquie della
martire riposano nella chiesa romana dei ss. Apostoli; nella Chiesa greca la
festa invece che al 25 dicembre e anticipata al 24 dello stesso mese. Il nome è
di origine greca e significa “nata bene”.
Autore: Antonio
Borrelli
SOURCE : http://www.santiebeati.it/dettaglio/90625
Martyre
de Sainte Eugénie, Vitrail, église Notre-Dame de Clignancourt
Den hellige Eugenia av
Roma (d. ~255)
Minnedag:
25. desember
Den hellige Eugenia var
beviselig en tidlig martyr i Roma og ble gravlagt på kirkegården Aproniani ved
Via Latina. Vi vet ikke nøyaktig når hun døde, selv om rundt 255 angis som en
mulig tidfesting. Da hennes virkelige lidelseshistorie for lengst var glemt,
fikk hun helt uten grunnlag sitt navn knyttet til en populær legendetype som
også fortelles med mindre avvik om andre hellige kvinner som ble «munker»
forkledd i mannsklær.
Legenden forteller at
Eugenia levde på 200-tallet og var eneste datter av den romerske hertug Filip
og hans hustru, den hellige Claudia. Hun
hadde flere brødre. Hertug Filip ble utnevnt av keiser Commodus (180-92) til
romersk prefekt av Alexandria i Egypt, og han dro dit med sin familie. Eugenia
fikk en god oppdragelse, og som sekstenåring hadde hun lest alle de greske og
latinske forfatterne og kjente til alle retninger innen filosofien. Hun gjorde
seg også bemerket for sin skjønnhet og sitt gode humør. Mange fremstående unge
menn søkte hennes hånd, inkludert konsulens sønn Aquilius, men hun ønsket ikke
å gifte seg med noen av dem, for hun var fast bestemt på å bevare sin
jomfruelighet. Ved en skjebnens tilskyndelse ble hun kjent med apostelen Paulus’ brev, og
hun lengtet av hele sin sjel etter å bli kristen, men dette holdt hun hemmelig
for sine foreldre. På den tiden var nemlig kristne forvist fra Alexandria etter
keiserens ordre.
Eugenia ønsket å lære mer
om den kristne lære, så hun ba om tillatelse til å besøke en av familiens
eiendommer utenfor byen, angivelig for å nyte de landlige omgivelsene. Hun
forlot hjemmet kledd i mannsdrakt sammen med sine to tjenere, evnukkene Protus
og Hyacinth. Da hun en dag tilfeldigvis kom forbi et munkekloster, sang de ti
tusen munkene som vanlig sine daglige bønner i koret. Teksten den dagen var:
«Hedningenes guder er avguder, men vi tilber den sanne Gud, skaper av himmel og
jord». Da konvertert hun til disse munkenes religion, kristendommen. Hun og
hennes ledsagere ble døpt i et visst kloster av biskop Helenus av Heliopolis,
som sendte henne til et mannskloster i nærheten av Alexandria, hvor hun ble
opptatt som «Eugenius». Hennes familie trodde at hun var forsvunnet og død.
Eugenia levde et så
strengt og gudfryktig liv og var kjent for sine eksepsjonelle dyder, så da
klosterets gamle abbed døde etter få år, ble hun valgt til ny abbed. Hun hadde
helbredende evner, og en gang kom en rik, ung adelskvinne ved navn Melantia for
å få hjelp. Hun ble helbredet, men da hun traff «Eugenius», ble hun fylt av et
voldsomt begjær og gjorde tilnærmelser, i den tro at Eugenia var en mann. Da
hun ble avvist, rettet hun falske anklager om voldtektsforsøk mot abbeden.
Eugenia ble da trukket for dommeren, prefekten av Egypt – som var hennes far.
Han dømte alle munkene i klosteret til døden. Eugenia var da tvunget til å
avsløre sin rette identitet, ble frikjent og forlot klosteret. Hennes foreldre
og brødre gledet seg stort over å finne igjen henne de så lenge hadde sørget
over. Eugenia omvendte foreldrene og brødrene og mange andre, som mottok dåpen.
Melantia ble derimot truffet av et lynnedslag.
Eugenias far Filip ble
angitt som kristen av noen hedninger og ble avsatt som prefekt. Men han var
kjent for å hjelpe de fattige i en slik grad at de kristne i Alexandria valgte
ham til byens biskop. Den nye prefekten fryktet folkets vrede og turde ikke
henrette Filip åpent fordi han var en kristen, så han sendte leiemordere etter
ham. De påførte ham sår mens han ba, og tre dager senere døde han. Det skjedde
rundt år 200.
Claudia dro da tilbake
til Roma sammen med sine sønner, datter og sine tjenere. Der etablerte hun et
kloster for enker, mens Eugenia arbeidet blant yngre kvinner. Etter flere
fredelige år intensiverte keiserne Valerian (253-60) og Gallienus (253-68)
forfølgelsene mot kristne, og mange av dem søkte tilflukt hos Claudia og
Eugenia. En viss Basilla, en foreldreløs romersk jente som var en slektning av
keiser Gallienus, hørte om de kristne og Eugenia. Hun sendte en betrodd tjener
til henne og ba henne om å skrive et brev til henne som forklarte den kristne
lære. Eugenia sendte sine venner, evnukkene Protus og Hyacinth, som opplyste
Basilla, og hun mottok dåpen.
Men Basillas tjener
fortalte hennes forlovede Pompeius at hans trolovede hadde blitt en kristen.
Pompeius klagde til keiseren mot de kristne fordi de forkynte sølibat og
fordømte avgudsdyrking. Basilla nektet å inngå ekteskap med Pompeius, og derfor
ble hun drept med et sverd. Protus og Hyacinth ble trukket inn i et tempel for
at de skulle ofre til avgudene, med straks de gikk inn, falt avgudsbildet ned
og ble knust. Da ble Protus og Hyacinth halshogd.
Litt senere ble Eugenia
brakt med makt til templet for gudinnen Diana, men hun hadde ikke engang gått
inn i det, før tempelet kollapset med sitt avgudsbilde. De ble den hellige
martyren kastet i Tiberen med en stein bundet om halsen, men steinen løsnet av seg
selv og hun forble uskadd. Hun ble da kastet på et bål, men hun var like hel.
Da kastet de henne ned i et hull, hvor hun ble værende i ti dager. I denne
tiden viste Frelseren selv seg for henne og sa at hun ville gå inn i himlenes
rike den dagen Han var blitt født.
Da juledagen opprant den
25. desember, drepte bøddelen henne med et sverd. Hun ble halshogd sammen med
mange andre kristne, og etter sin død viste hun seg for sin mor Claudia og
fortalte henne datoen når hun skulle dø. Den inntraff den 27. desember. Sitt
siste hvilested skal Eugenia ifølge overleveringene ha funnet på kirkegården
Aproniani ved Via Latina i Roma.
Eugenias
lidelseshistorie (passio) var svært populær i antikken, og det finnes
versjoner på gresk, armensk, syrisk og etiopisk. Eugenias minnedag er 25.
desember. Denne opplysningen samt angivelse av hennes begravelsessted på
kirkegården Aproniani står i den hellige Hieronymus’
martyrologium. Hennes ortodokse minnedag er 24. desember, mens armenerne minnes
henne den 16. januar. Hun ble æret i tidlig middelalder i Roma, Ravenna, Napoli
og Hellas. Den hellige Avitus av Vienne (ca
460-ca 525) forteller at Eugenia var svært berømt på 400-tallet, noe som vises
av at hennes navn tidligere sto i messens kanon (eukaristisk bønn). I den gamle
gallikanske liturgien var det hun og ikke den hellige Anastasia som
ble minnet i den andre
julemessen.
Eugenias navn står i
Martyrologium Romanum. Den eldste avbildningen av henne finnes i Ravenna, på en
mosaikk fra 500-tallet i erkebiskopens kapell og på en like gammel mosaikk i
kirken Sant’Apollinare Nuovo, sammen med andre jomfrumartyrer. I kunsten bærer
Eugenia et sverd, som viser til hennes martyrium. Byen Córdoba ærer henne som
skytshelgen.
I historiene om kvinner
som kledte seg som menn, er det aldri noen antydninger om at kvinnene selv
skapte noen form for skandale. De levde asketisk, ofte som eneboere eller i en
slags monastisk institusjon hvor munkene bare kom sammen til måltider og
liturgier. De overholdt regelen og de døde i Troen. Det faktum at de skjulte
sitt kjønn (og var i stand til å gjøre det), forteller om en betydelig
bluferdighet og fysisk tilknappethet i disse kommunitetene. En kvinne som
ønsket å leve i en kristen kommunitet, kan ha vært ute av stand til å finne en
kvinnekommunitet hun kunne slutte seg til – den monastiske bevegelsen for menn
utviklet seg lenge før den tilsvarende bevegelsen for kvinner. Dersom en kvinne
ønsket å leve som eneboer, kunne det å gi inntrykk av at hun var en mann være
en åpenbar forsiktighetsregel. I det minste noen av disse kvinnene synes ganske
enkelt å ha valgt en levemåte hvor deres kjønn ikke ville være et hinder for
religiøs hengivenhet.
Det finnes historiske
paralleller med kvinner forkledd som menn. For eksempel var den hellige Frans di Girolamos
(1642-1716) mest fremtredende botferdige synder den franske kvinnen Maria Alvira
Cassier. Hun hadde myrdet sin far og deretter forkledd seg som mann og
tjenestegjort i den spanske hæren. Vi kan også nevne den historiske Pretty
Polly Oliver fra 1700-tallet, best kjent fra balladen om henne.
Noen av helgenhistoriene
fant veien inn i bollandistenes Acta Sanctorum i andre halvdel av
1600-tallet. Historien om den hellige Anastasia Patricia skal
ha vært den første av de mange legendene som forteller om kvinner som levde i
forkledning som munker. Ved siden av Eugenia er andre eksempler de
hellige Eufrosyne
av Alexandria, Eufrosyne den yngre, Marina munken alias Pelagia den
botferdige, Theodora av
Alexandria, Apollinaris
Syncletica av Alexandria, Hilaria av Egypt, Anna av
Konstantinopel, Jakoba av Roma, Hugolina av Novara og Hildegund av
Schönau.
Kilder:
Attwater/John, Attwater/Cumming, Butler (XII), Benedictines, Delaney, Bunson,
Jones2, Kaas, Schauber/Schindler, CSO, Patron Saints SQPN, Infocatho, Bautz,
Heiligenlexikon, santiebeati.it, en.wikipedia.org, heiligen-3s.nl, zeno.org,
ocafs.oca.org - Kompilasjon og oversettelse: p. Per Einar Odden
Opprettet: 5. juni 1999
SOURCE : https://www.katolsk.no/biografier/historisk/eugenia
_3.jpg)
Sainte-Élisabeth-de-Hongrie's
church, in Paris (Paris III, France)
Statue de sainte Eugénie. Église Sainte-Élisabeth-de-Hongrie,
à Paris (Paris 3è, France)
Eugenia von Rom
auch: von Alexandria
Gedenktag katholisch: 25.
Dezember
Gedenktag orthodox: 24.
Dezember
Gedenktag armenisch: 16.
Januar
Gedenktag
äthiopisch-orthodox: 1. Dezember
Gedenktag
syrisch-orthodox: 24. Dezember
Name bedeutet: die
Edelgeborene (griech.)
Jungfrau, Abt, Märtyrerin
* in Alexandria in Ägypten (?)
† um 258 in Rom (?)
Eugenia kam nach der
Legende um 185, zur Zeit des Kaisers Commodus, mit ihren Eltern Philippus und Claudia von Rom nach Alexandria,
ihr Vater wurde dort der römische Präfekt. Sie war wissenschaftlich gebildet
und kam durch das Lesen der Briefe des Apostels Paulus zum
Christenglauben. Unterstützt durch die Eunuchen Protus und Hyazinthus trat
sie demnach in Männerkleidern in ein Männerkloster ein und wurde dort in jungen
Jahren schon Abt. Als eine Frau den Abt verführen wollte, wurde diese von ihm
zurechtgewiesen, worauf Eugenius von der Abgewiesenen der Unzucht
beschuldigt und beim Präfekten verklagt wurde. Diesem - also ihrem Vater -
offenbarte sie ihre wahre Identität und gewann daraufhin auch ihre Eltern für
das Christentum. Sie konnte nun nicht mehr im Kloster bleiben, ging deshalb mit
ihrer Familie nach Rom zurück
und wurde in der Christenverfolgung des Kaisers Valerian und Gallienus
enthauptet; mit ihr starben ihr Vater und die beiden Eunuchen, nach mancher
Überlieferung auch ihre Mutter Claudia sowie ihre Brüder Sergius und Avitus (Apitonius).
Historischer Kern der
Legende ist eine Märtyrerin Eugenia in Rom. Ihr Grab lag in den Katakomben
des Apronianus an der Via Latina. Schon früh wurde darüber eine Basilika errichtet,
die im 8. Jahrhundert durch die Päpste restauriert wurde, von der aber heute
nichts erhalten ist. Avitus
von Vienne und Venantius
Fortunatus kannten die Märtyrerin. Im frühen Mittelalter war die
Verehrung für Eugenia besonders in Italien und Griechenland sehr groß. Die
Eugenia-Legende wurde in Gottfried Kellers Novellenzyklus Sieben
Legenden aufgenommen.
Eugenias Vater Philippus
war nach anderer, rein legendarischer Überlieferung Präfekt in Alexandria,
der sich taufen ließ, dann als Bischof der Stadt eingesetzt, dort unter Kaiser
dem 193 bis 211 herrschenden Septimius Severus enthauptet und in der Einsiedlerkolonie Nitria beim
heutigen Al Barnuji bestattet wurde.
Attribute: Mantel, Schwert
Patronin gegen Taubheit und Besessenheit
Eine deutsche
Übersetzung der Lebensgeschichte
von Eugenia, verfasst von einem unbekannten Autor, gibt es online zu lesen
bei Google-Books.
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Autor: Joachim
Schäfer - zuletzt aktualisiert am 08.09.2023
Quellen:
• Vera Schauber, Hanns Michael Schindler: Heilige und Patrone im Jahreslauf. Pattloch, München 2001
• Friedrich-Wilhelm Bautz. In: Friedrich-Wilhelm Bautz (Hg.): Biographisch-Bibliographisches Kirchenlexikon, Bd. I, Hamm 1990
• Lexikon für Theologie und Kirche, begr. von Michael Buchberger. Hrsg. von Walter Kasper, 3., völlig neu bearb. Aufl., Bd. 3. Herder, Freiburg im Breisgau 1995
• Vollständiges Heiligen-Lexikon …, 4. Band: M-P. Herausgegeben von Johann
Evangelist Stadler, Fortgesetzt von J. N. Ginal, B. Schmid'sche
Verlagsbuchhandlung (A. Manz), Augsburg, 1875
korrekt zitieren: Joachim Schäfer: Artikel Eugenia von Rom, aus dem Ökumenischen Heiligenlexikon - https://www.heiligenlexikon.de/BiographienE/Eugenia_von_Rom.htm, abgerufen am 8. 2. 2025
Die Deutsche Nationalbibliothek verzeichnet das Ökumenische
Heiligenlexikon in der Deutschen Nationalbibliografie; detaillierte
bibliografische Daten sind im Internet über https://d-nb.info/1175439177 und https://d-nb.info/969828497 abrufbar.
SOURCE : https://www.heiligenlexikon.de/BiographienE/Eugenia_von_Rom.htm
Voir aussi : https://www.histoire-russie.fr/icone/saints_fetes/textes/eugenie_rome.html
http://orthodoxievco.net/ecrits/vies/moniales/eugenie.pdf
https://www.christianiconography.info/goldenLegend/prothusJacintusEugenia.htm
