The great-granddaughter of St. Vladimir, Princess Predslava of Polotsk from childhood loved reading theological books. I spent a lot of time in prayer and reflection. At a very young age, she decided to go to a monastery. It’s unusual for the princess. It’s a blow to the family. After all, princely children strengthened ties between states through marriages. Her father had big plans for her. But she was helped by her aunt, the abbess of the monastery. When she was convinced that Preslava did not want worldly life, she gave her blessing for tonsure. So Predslava became Euphrosyne.
She settled at the cathedral temple. It is believed that the well-educated Euphrosyne was engaged in the translation and writing of books. She was a recluse, did not communicate with anyone, devoting herself to the Lord. But after a while there was a voice from heaven that the time for her seclusion was coming to an end. She should leave the gate and establish a monastery. In order not to make a mistake, the angel gave her a place for the monastery three times. The same vision was with the bishop, who, with a large confluence of eminent boyars, gave land to the Church of the Savior on Selets. There Ephrosyne founded 2 monasteries, for brothers and sisters. In the Bogoroditsky Monastery from Constantinople delivered a list from the icon of Ephesus Mother of God Odigitria. They made an ark for women to store relics. During the war, the ark was lost, but a copy was made in 1997. It is kept in the Spaso of the Ephrosyniev Monastery.
At the end of her life, Ephrosyne made a pilgrimage to Jerusalem. There she received such emotional impressions that at the Holy Sepulchre, she prayed to die there. The reverend’s wish has been fulfilled. She died in Jerusalem, where she was buried.
In 1187, the Muslims invaded Jerusalem. Fearing abuse, the relics of the saint were transferred to the caves of the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra. In 1910, they were again transported to their homeland, to the Spaso-Efrosinevsky monastery. There they were placed in a specially made cancer.
After the revolution, relics were repeatedly transported, cancer was opened. In the end, she just disappeared. But by the grace of God, the power was preserved. Now they rest in the temple of the Savior-Efrosinevsky monastery.
Remembrance days
May 30
June 1
July 19 – Council of Radonezh Saints
July 20
September 4 (transitional) – Cathedral of Moscow Saints
The Holy Land Charitable Foundation
Lives of Saints
