Page:A Dictionary of Saintly Women Volume 1.djvu/327

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ST. FEDOSIA 313 earth and the severed head and limbs were gathered np and taken with the bodj to the convent. Bryene's grief was great when her child was brought back to her in this way. She and her nans laid her on her little bench, and put all her limbs in their places, and washed her. They then opened the gates, and the people came in to see the saint, and filled her coffin with incense and sweet ointments. They would not allow the coffin to be closed. The bishop and the clergy tried to persaade them to let Febronia be buried, but they would not until Bryene stood up on a high place and spoke to them. An immense number of the soldiers and other heathens were con- verted on this occasion. Among the first were Lysimaohus and Primus, who became monks. Hieria, having been baptized with all her family, begged Bryene to take her to wait npon her for the rest of her life in the place once filled by their beloved Febronia. The bishop built a beautiful church in honour of Febronia. It was finished in six years. He then begged to have the body of the martyr placed in the new church, but the nuns would not give it up. After much argument, Bryene said that if Febronia would go the bishop might take her. So, after prayers, the priests attempted to take the cofiBn, but a frightful thunderstorm so terrified them all that they desisted for a time. Their next attempt was interrupted by a terrific earthquake. At last one of the teeth which had been collected, and laid on her breast on the day of her martyrdom, was given to the bishop, who exposed it to the veneration of the people in the new church, and inmiense multitudes came there to be healed of divers diseases through the virtue of the holy virgin martyr Fe- bronia. Dr. Neale, in his History of the Holy Eastern Churchy says that Febronia was put to death by Saracens. This would place the story somewhat later. R,M, Her Life from a MS. in the Vatican, translated into Latin by Papebroch, in the AA.SS. The narrative purports to be written by Thomais, who was in authority under the abbess in the con- vent where Febronia lived, and an eye- witness of her martyrdom. The part of the story she did not see was told to her by Lysimachus. Bibadeneira and other collections. St. Febronia (2), Feb. 14. Nun at Pavia, with her sister Euphrasia (10). They are said to be daughters of Aistolfo, king of the Lombards, who built a church for them, which was for some time called All Saints', but afterwards San Marino. AA.SS,y in note to Febronia (1). Buce- linus. St. Febronia (3), Oct. 28. 7th century. Daughter of the Emperor HeraoHus. Probably her name was EimooiA, and she may have become a nun and taken the name of Febronia. AA.SS., Prseter. Oynecseum, St. Febronia (4), June 25. + 1228. Wife of St. Peter, prince of Volodomir, a province of Eussia north of Moscow. He was gifted with all the virtues be- fitting a Christian prince, and with the power of healing diseases, and of know- ing secret and future events. They lived at Murom, on the west bank of the Oka. They led a holy and charitable life, much beloved by all classes ; and at last, in extreme old age and oppressed with infirmities. Prince Peter assumed the monastic dress and tonsure, and the name of David, and soon afterwards died. The Princess Febronia took the veil, and with it the name of Euphrosyne. She died in the same year, 1228. The whole population accompanied the vene- rable bodies, and laid them both in one grave in the church at Murom, where they work miracles for those who apply to them in faith. AA.SS, Martinov, GrsecO'Slav. Calendar, Slavo-Buaaian Menology. Buthenian Synaxary. St. Febronia (5). St. Tropibiena is sometimes erroneously called Febronia. St. Fede. {See Faith, Hope, and Charity.) St. Fedella. (See Ethnea and Fb- DELMIA^ St. r edelmia. (See Ethnea.) St. Fedlimid, of Eilmore. Daughter (or son?) of St. Editna, or Dediva, and sister (or brother ?) of St. Femia. St. Fedosia. Same as Theodota,