St. Euphrasia of Constantinople was an early Christian saint who lived in the fourth century, in the capital city of Constantinople. Various legends about her life relate slightly different stories about her origins, but all are agreed that she was a young noblewoman who chose serving God over marriage.

Euphrasia is believed to have been born around the year 380 in Constantinople. Her father was a member of the Emperor Theodosius I’s imperial court. After her father died, Euphrasia and her mother retreated to Egypt and lived in a monastery with other women there.

At the tender age of seven, Euphrasia begged to take monastic vows and join the monastery as a nun. She showed a devotion to Christ and a desire to serve him far beyond her years. Accounts differ of which emperor wanted Euphrasia to marry, and whether it was before or after she entered the monastery. Regardless, the emperor commanded her to marry a certain wealthy senator. Euphrasia refused, gave up all her parents’ property she had inherited upon the death of her mother.

The image to the left shows Euphrasia lifting heavy stones, which her abbess often assigned her for a penance, as manual labor was often used in monastic communities as a way to overcome temptations. Euphrasia died in the monastery at the age of thirty in 410.

St. Euphrasia of Constantinople, who as a young girl devoted her life entirely to God—pray for us!