St Shenouda Podcast: The Hidden Ascetic—St. Euphrosyne of Alexandria

Welcome to the St Shenouda Podcast! In this episode, we delve into the extraordinary life of St. Euphrosyne of Alexandria, a 5th-century saint whose story belongs to a group of legends about Christian virgins who used male attire to pursue a life of celibacy and asceticism. Born around 410 to Paphnutius, a rich and pious man of Alexandria, Euphrosyne was her parents' only daughter, born in response to fervent prayers.

When she turned eighteen, facing an impending marriage to a wealthy youth, Euphrosyne chose instead to consecrate her life to God. She fled home and made the dramatic decision to disguise herself in male attire. Under the assumed name Smaragdus—a name meaning "precious emerald gemstone"—she gained admittance into a monastery of men near Alexandria.

For an astounding thirty-eight years, Euphrosyne lived as a monk, without her true identity being discovered. As Smaragdus, she impressed the abbot by the "rapid strides" she made toward a perfect ascetic life, excelling in virtue and asceticism to the degree that she was described as having rejected the weaknesses of a female and acquiring a "manly mindset".

The narrative reaches a powerful emotional peak when her father, Paphnutius, deeply grieving the loss of his only daughter, came to the monastery seeking counsel and comfort. The abbot, unaware of their relationship, committed Paphnutius to the care of Smaragdus. Thus, Paphnutius received "helpful advice and comforting exhortation" from his own unrecognized daughter, who had become his spiritual director.

Only on her deathbed, around 470, did Euphrosyne reveal her secret to her astonished father. Profoundly moved, Paphnutius distributed all his wealth and himself became a monk in the same monastery, living in his daughter’s cell until his death ten years later. Join us as we explore this inspiring tale of devotion, hidden identity, and the spiritual bravery required to live the life one truly desires.

(St. Euphrosyne is venerated with feast days including 25 September in the Greek Orthodox Church and 16 January in the Roman Catholic Church)