Venerable Euphrosyne, Abbess of Polotsk

(23 May/5 June)

Before baptism, her name was Predislava. Euphrosyne was the daughter of Svyatoslav—George Vsevolodovich, Prince of Polotsk and grandson of the holy Prince Vladimir. After her baptism, holy princess dedicated herself to learning the Divine Scriptures and the writings of the fathers. Word of her wisdom and beauty spread everywhere but being wise spiritually, she refused marriage and renounced the wealth of this world. She was tonsured into a nunnery. At first, the saint lived in Sofia Church in Polotsk copying sacred books and distributing alms to the poor. Then, she moved to a small village where she had a stone church built. There she founded a nunnery. Soon, her sister Eudokia, her cousin and two nieces joined her. Later, she had another stone church built in honour of the Most Holy Theotokos where she founded a men’s monastery. She donated an icon of Theotokos painted by Evangelist Luke at Ephesus to the monastery. She received the icon from the Emperor of Constantinople Manuel and the Patriarch.

St Euphrosyne had a great desire to visit Jerusalem and reverence the holy places. She and her brother David set out together and visited the holy places of Palestine. She prayed the Lord that she ended her days in Jerusalem. The Lord heard her prayers and Euphrosyne reposed on May 23, 1170 and was buried in Jerusalem Coenobitic Monastery of St Theodosius, in the Church of Theotokos. During the conquest of Palestine by Saladin, her uncorrupted relics were transferred to Kiev and placed in the cave of St Theodosius.