Eugenia of Rome

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St. Eugenia, Greek icon

Eugenia von Rom (also: Eugenia von Alexandria ) (* around 180 in Rome (?); † 258 or 262 in Rome) was a legendary martyr . She is venerated as a saint in the Catholic and Orthodox Churches . Her Greek name means "noble born".

Life and legend

According to the life story, which was already widespread in late antiquity , Eugenia is said to have been the daughter of the Roman prefect Philip . She and her parents came to Alexandria from Rome around 185, after Philip was appointed Prefect of Egypt by Emperor Commodus .

She was trained by the two brothers Protus and Hyacinthus , so she came to read the letters of the apostle Paul and converted to Christianity . In order to be able to live her faith in monastic seclusion, she disguised herself as a man and entered a monastery with her two confidants and teachers, Protus and Hyacinthus . There she and her companions were baptized by Bishop Helenus of Heliopolis .

According to legend, she was soon elected (still unrecognized) abbot of her monastery. Since she had a reputation for having healing powers, she was visited by numerous people seeking help. When a young woman fell in love with the alleged "Abbot Eugenius" and was rejected by him, Eugenia was sued by the prefect for alleged fornication , a parallel to the biblical accusation of Potiphar's wife against Joseph . She then had to answer to her father Philip. Eugenia revealed himself to him as his daughter, whereupon Philip also converted to Christianity. Philip was then deposed and, according to legend, later elected bishop by the Christians of Alexandria , but murdered by assassins whom his successor in the office of prefect put on him.

Eugenia then returned to Rome with her mother Claudia and her companions Protus and Hyacinthus. After she and her mother Claudia were said to have taken care of widows in Rome, Basilla, a relative of Emperor Valerian , turned to her and asked for a visit. According to legend, Eugenia is said to have sent her companions Protus and Hyacinthus to Basilla to announce her faith. When Basilla was baptized and therefore dissolved an existing engagement, the disdained fiancé sued the emperor. This had Basilla, Protus and Hyacinthus arrested and also arrested Eugenia as an instigator together with her mother Claudia. Together with her companions, Eugenia was condemned as a Christian and beheaded.

Reception and facts

St. Eugenia with Protus and Hyacinthus. Miniature, 14th century

The life story of Eugenia is likely to be the legendary embellishment of an actually attested martyrdom of a Roman woman in the persecution of Christians under Emperor Valerian and Emperor Gallienus . Either the years 258 or 262 are assumed to be the dates of death. The biography is likely to be closely connected with numerous similar legendary martyrdom testimonies from the same time of the Valerian persecution of Christians. Eugenia is mentioned as a holy martyr by Avitus von Vienne and Venantius Fortunatus, among others .

The tomb of a martyr Eugenia is attested in the Coemeterium Aproniani on Via Latina in Rome. A basilica was built over this grave and was restored by the popes of the time in the 8th century. Neither the grave nor the church have survived today.

Adoration

In Italy and Greece, the worship of Eugenia was widespread in late antiquity and the Middle Ages. She has been invoked as the patron saint against deafness and obsession. Her memorial days are:

presentation

Medieval Western European representations are not known; Modern figures and stained glass usually show them with a martyr's palm and / or with a cross or book. The icon painting of the Eastern Church usually shows her with a cross in her right hand.

Others

Gottfried Keller describes the Eugenia legend in detail in his cycle of novels, Seven Legends (1872), but clearly deviates from the late antique models.

literature

Web links

Commons : Eugenia of Rome  - Collection of images, videos and audio files

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Gen 39: 1-21  EU .
  2. ^ Commentarius in Martyrologium Hieronymianum, edited by H. Delehay (1931), entry December 25th
personal data
SURNAME Eugenia
BRIEF DESCRIPTION christian martyr
DATE OF BIRTH at 180
PLACE OF BIRTH Rome
DATE OF DEATH at 258
Place of death Rome