Saint Pelagia
Virgin and martyr
Bornlate 3rd century
ResidenceAntioch
DiedAntioch
Venerated inRoman Catholic Church
Greek Orthodox Church
Major shrineAntioch
FeastOctober 8 (Greek Orthodox)
June 9 (Roman Catholic)
October 5 (Naples)

Pelagia the Virgin (Greek: Πελαγία), also known as Pelagia of Antioch, was a Saint and virgin martyr who leapt to her death during the Diocletianic Persecution rather than be forced by Roman soldiers to offer a public sacrifice to the pagan gods,[1] or to do "something unspeakable (for she was a virgin)", typically inferred as the Roman soldiers attempting to rape her. [2] She was 15 years old. Originally, her feast day was celebrated on October 8,[3] in common with SS Pelagia the Harlot and Pelagia of Tarsus.[4] In the Roman Catholic Church, it came to be celebrated on June 9[1] and, at Naples in Italy, she is celebrated on October 5.[5]

Life

Pelagia is mentioned by Ambrose[6] and was the subject of two sermons by John Chrysostom.[7] She was home alone during the Diocletian Persecution when Roman soldiers arrived. She came out to meet them and, discovering they intended to compel her to participate in a pagan sacrifice (or to rape her), she received permission to change her clothes. She went to the roof of her house and threw herself into the sea.[1] The patristic sources treat this as a sacred martyrdom.

Legacy

Pelagia's story was the probable basis for the later dubious accounts of Pelagia of Tarsus.[1]

See also

References

Citations

  1. ^ a b c d Kirsch (1911).
  2. ^ Philip R. Amidon, appendix 6.10 to Philostorgius, Church History.
  3. ^ Wright's Syriac Martyrology.
  4. ^ Greek Synaxarion.
  5. ^ Butler (1866), "8 October: St. Pelagia, Penitent".
  6. ^ Ambrose, De Virg., III, 7, 33.
  7. ^ Chrysostom, Hom. in Matth. lxvii. (in Latin)

Bibliography

Categories