Page:A Dictionary of Saintly Women Volume 1.djvu/116

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102
102

102 ST. BASILIA is honoured tbc same day. Pspebroch, mAAJSS, St. Basilia, Basia, etc. Seven martyrs who sctfiered at different times and places occur on different days in the calendars : one of them was pnt to death at Alexandria with Leonidcs, the father of Origen, April 22, c. 204. AAJSS, St. Basilica (l), or Basilissa (7), Not. 1 8, M. Sister of Oriccla. St Basilica (2), Placidia (i). St. Basilica (3), same as Basilissa (8), Abh«ss of Horres. St Basilissa (l), April 15. Mar- tyred with St. Anastasia at Bome, in the time of Nero. Bepresented bnrying the martyrs. They were women of rank, and disciples of the Apostles. Their tongues were cnt ont, and their feet cut off, and they were slain by the sword. B.M. Gallot. Husenbeth. St Basilissa (2), Basilla, or Bas- siLA, March 22, 26, M. under Decius. c. 252. A rich woman, who garo money, for the Christiaus, to St. Callinica ; both were put to death when discovered. B.M., March 22. St Basilissa (3), Sept. 3, V. Mar- tyred at Nicomedia, under Diocletian. When she was nine years old she was denounced as a Christian to Alexander the governor, and was by his order scourged, then her ankles were pierced and she was hung up with her head down, and tormented with the smoke of pitch and sulphur, next she was cast into the fire, and being taken out unhurt, two lions were let loose against her, but they would not touch her. When Alexander saw those miracles and the courage and determination of the child, he believed in Christ, and begged her to pray for him. He reformed his life, and died in peace. Set at liberty, Basilissa wont out of the city, and being thirsty she prayed and a fountain of water sprang up from the earth; she drank, and gave thanks; then standing on a stone and praying, she gave up her soul to God, and the faithful are cured of all diseases at the fountain to this day. AA,SS. Mcnology of BasiL St Basilissa (4), or Bassila, April 10, V. Martyr of Corinth, drowned. Chabiessa. ^^B St Basilissa (5), March 12, M. Daughter of Cone or Cione, wife, either of EustasiuB, a priest, or of Felioon. Put to death with them and several others in Asia. AAJSS, St Basilissa (6), Jan. 9, M. 3rd century. Also called St. Castellana, and in Mart. Salisbury St. Castell. Wife of St Julian the Hospitaller, and commemorated with him in the Boman Martyrciogy. Basilissa and Julian are represented (1) with lilies, roses, and crowns ; (2) holding one lily between them ; (3) look- ing together into the book of life, where their names are written. He is a patron of travellers, ferrymen, boatmen, and* travelling minstrels who wander from door to door. The legend of SS. Julian and Basilissa is as follows : — He was a noble count, fond of the pleasures of the world, of the chase in the green wood by day, and the revel in his castle by night. One day when he was hunting a deer, it turned round and spoke, foretelling that he should cause the death of his father and mother. The horrified count resolved never to return to his home where so terrible a fate awaited him, so he turned his horso and fled from the country. He travelled through many lands, and at last entered the service of a certain king, found favour with him, was promoted to great honour, and married a rich, noble, and beautiful widow named Basilissa, with whom he lived very happily for some years, and almost forgot the doom that had driven him into exile. Meantime his father and mother, having sought and sent messengers in vain in search of their only son, set out themselves to look for him. When they had travelled a long time — some- times finding traces of him, and some- times nearly losing hope — they came one night to a castle and asked for a night's shelter there. The lady of the house received the pilgrims hospitably for Christ's sake. When she had heard who they were and whom they sought, she was very glad, and said, "Blessed be God, who has brought you to your son's house I Julian is with the king to-night, but he will return to-morrow.