Saint Eugenia Silk Screen Icon – Gold & Engraved Wood

Description

Saint Eugenia, also known as the Righteous Nun-martyr Eugenia of Rome, was Roman born and the daughter of Philip the Prefect of Egypt. According to tradition, she lived in Alexandria with her noble family where she received an upbringing suitable to a woman of her status. Saint Eugenia became interested with Christianity, beginning with the Epistles of Saint Paul.

The readings moved her to flee from Alexandria with her two servants Protas and Hyacinth. Saint Eugenia disguised herself as a man and joined a monastery where she lived and labored as a monk for a time. During her time at the monastery a woman arrived and believing Saint Eugenia’s male disguise she attempted to seduce Saint Eugenia. However when Saint Eugenia refused to comply with the woman’s desires, she reported to the Prefect that a monk had dishonored her. Saint Eugenia was forced to appear before the Prefect, who was her father. She chose to reveal herself in front of him, removing her disguise and showing her father that it was she – Eugenia. Her father believed her to be innocent and was so overcome with emotion that he converted to Christianity, later serving as Bishop of Alexandria.

Following the trial, Saint Eugenia and her two servants left Alexandria for Rome where she played an important role in converting young women to Christianity. Her actions caught the attention of Emperor Valerian, who was persecuting Christians across the Roman Empire, leading to her eventual arrest. Prior to her martyrdom, Saint Eugenia had a dream wherein Christ visited her and informed her that her death would take place on the feast day of the Nativity. On December 25, 258 AD she was martyred via beheading. The Eastern Orthodox Church commemorates Saint Eugenia on December 24, while the Roman Catholic Church commemorates her on December 25.