By Bishop Gregorios of Mesaoria
Our Church commemorates today Venerable Euphrosyne of Alexandria and her father Venerable Paphnutius. The Church also celebrates the memory of Monk-martyr Paphnutius.
Saint Euphrosyne was born to wealthy and pious parents. She was miraculously born in her parents’ old age in answer to a monk’s prayer. At the age of 12, her mother died and Saint Euphrosyne dedicated her to prayer and studying the Holy Scriptures.
When her father decided that she should be married, Saint Euphrosyne left her father’s house and went to a women’s monastery. She feared, however, that in a women’s monastery her father would find her. So she went to a men’s monastery dressed in men’s garb.
Years later, she finally reunited with her father. Both longed to meet. Not until she was dying did Euphrosyne reveal herself to him as his lost daughter.
There is no doubt that the modern human being, living within the spirit of secularism, is difficult to grasp the value and experience of divine love as we know it from the lives of the Saints. You can understand the dynamics of that relationship when the love of Christ prevails over anything mundane.
SOURCE: Church of Cyprus