#st euphrosyne

[catholic-saint-tournament]

Can I nominate Saint Euphrosyne of Polatsk? The patron saint of Belarus. I also second the nominations for St. Elizabeth of Hungary and St Jadwiga of Poland.

St Euphrosyne sounds so cool! Added to the list of pre-schism saints but a lot more votes will be needed to get her on the bracket!

St Elizabeth of Hungary and St Jadwiga (Hedwig) are doing pretty well now with more votes each!!

Keep voting!!!

[thyateira]

On the origins of Lady Wisdom, I found these (A, B, C) to be helpful :D This post has been so interesting!

Hi! I saw a post where you mentioned intersex Jesus being a part of medieval European alchemy and I'd love to learn more about that. Could you elaborate or maybe provide links to some articles? I know some saint mystics talked about Jesus being our Mother, and the holy wound in His side was often likened to a birth canal, especially in medieval times. Is it connected to that in any way?

I'd love to elaborate! (This is going to be a long post so buckle up lol)

I will be using the word "hermaphrodite" instead of "intersex" because that is the word that primary sources from medieval Europe and contemporary medieval scholars use when talking about this subject

The best scholarly article I've found is "The Jesus Hermaphrodite: Science and Sex Difference in Premodern Europe" by Leah DeVun. It talks about how the image of the hermaphrodite was used in a metaphorical way by alchemists to show the combining/transforming of two different metals. They believed that certain metals/elements were gendered, so combining male and female "traits" would make something of a completely new sex; similar to the way they perceived hermaphrodites as both but also neither sex.

The article then goes on to talk about two medieval texts: Aurora consurgens and the Book of the Holy Trinity. Aurora consurgens is an alchemic text and has the image below in it. The hermaphrodite is holding a rabbit and bat, both of which were thought to be hermaphroditic species where both males and females gave birth, to emphasize their dual sexuality as well as the conflicting male and female attributes of alchemy.

The Book of the Holy Trinity transitioned from the traditional alchemic hermaphrodite, like seen above, into the religious sphere by arguing that Jesus and Mary were two sides of the same coin. The author of the text says, "one can never see the mother of God without also seeing that God eternally hides and intermingles [his mother] within him. God was and is eternally his own mother and his own father, human and divine, his divinity and his humanity intermingled within. And he depends on that which he wishes to be hidden most of all within himself, the divine and the human, the feminine and the masculine." This makes Jesus/Mary a hermaphrodite.

As a bit of a fun side note to your ask, the author of the Book of the Holy Trinity gives a few more supporting points to his argument and then turns to say that as Christ contains Mary, He also contains the Antichrist which the Book illustrates like this:

The idea of the hermaphrodite Christ really took off after that and boosted the cult of Saint Wilgefortis, saint of monsters. Images of the hermaphrodite Wilgefortis were often indistinguishable from images of Christ because they were both depicted on a cross but where they both have beards, Wilgefortis only has one shoe on: a playful medieval illusion to female sex organs. Images of Saint Wilgefortis below (some images from the 1800s, some from the 1400s). You can read more about Wilegfortis in Bearded Woman, Female Christ: Gendered Transformations in the Legends and Cult of Saint Wilgefortis by Lewis Wallace.

About a hundred years later, “The Lamentation around the remains of Christ,” below, was made depicting Jesus with breasts and feminine curves. Not much is known about it and Christ's hermaphroditic traits weren't even discovered until it was restored in the 21st century. Because of how recent this discovery is, not much scholarly work has been published on it, but I did find this: "The androgyny of Christ" by H. Valdes‑Socin. It is now at the Museum of Notre-Dame à la Rose Hospital in Lessines, Belgium.

And you're absolutely right about Christ's stab wound being like a birth canal! I think the article Mysticism and queer readings of Christ’s Side Wound in the Prayer Book of Bonne of Luxembourg by  Dr. Maeve K. Doyle does a good job of explaining it. Dr. Doyle says, "The image of the side wound, ... grants feminine bodily attributes to Christ, destabilizing assumptions about his gender. In mystical images and texts, Christ’s capacity to transcend the gender binary, like his capacity to transcend the binary of life and death, underscores his divinity." Dr. Doyle then goes on to talk about how images of the stab wound looking like a birth canal would also be comforting to medieval women, trans people, and homosexuals on both sides. Now I'm not Christian but I think it's really amazing that such a simple image can elicited so much comfort and joy in so many groups of people who were not able to fully be themselves in the era they lived in. It was a reminder that even Christ was like them, their feelings were valid (to an extent), and that Jesus loved them anyway. Medieval Jesus stab wounds below for people interested.

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Just for fun here are some more cool things!

A medieval wooden architectural relief with a person with a beard, phallus, and breasts

Potta di Modena Metope/The Hermaphrodite (left) and detail from the Southern Archivolt (right) of the Modena Cathedral Modena, Italy, c. 1099-1319, Marble reliefs

The Potta di Modena Metope (left) is damaged because people in the 1500s thought it was too sexual/offensive so they vandalized it

More journal articles:

Bearded Women in Early Modern England by Mark Albert Johnston

The Third Sex: The Idea of the Hermaphrodite in Twelfth-Century Europe by Cary J. Nederman

Transvestites in the Middle Ages by Vern L. Bullough

[hildegardavon]

Studio of Francesco Furini, 1603-1646

The Three Graces, 1638, oil on canvas, 220×175 cm

National Gallery, London    Inv. NG6492

Three partially draped nudes, the Three Graces of Antiquity – Aglaia, Euphrosyne and Thalia – seem to be floating on clouds. They were daughters of Zeus and the Three Graces were often associated with pleasure, chastity and beauty.

The composition repeats in reverse a 1638 painting of the same subject by the Italian Baroque artist Francesco Furini, which is now in the Hermitage, St Petersburg. A member of Furini’s studio may have reused the artist’s cartoon (or large-scale preparatory drawing) to create this work.(National Gallery)

[andijaart]

+++🙏🏻God Bless🕊️+++

St. Peter (in the monastic life of David) and the Book. Fevronia (in monastic Euphrosyne), Murom miracle workers

MEMORIAL DAY JULY 8

As you were a precious branch from the pious root, blessed Peter, having lived beautifully in piety, so with your wife, the wise Fevronia, you pleased God in the world, and were worthy of reverend lives. With them, pray to the Lord to preserve your Fatherland without harm, so that we may constantly honor you.

💫International Orthodox Art Corporation Andcross May the blessing of the Lord be upon you!

[orthodoxydaily]

SAINTS&READING: SUNDAY. SEPTEMBER 15, 2024

september 2_september 15

TRANSLATION OF THE RELICS OF PRINCE PETER (1228) AND PRINCESS FEBRONIA (tonsured David and Euphrosyne), WONDERWORKERDS OF MUROM

Holy Prince Peter (David in monasticism) and Holy Princess Febronia (Euphrosyne - Euphrosynē - in monasticism), Wonderworkers of Murom. Prince Peter was the second son of the Murom prince Yuri Vladimirovich. He entered upon the throne of Murom in the year 1203. Several years before this Saint Peter had fallen ill with leprosy, from which no one was able to heal him. In a vision it was revealed to the prince that the daughter of a bee-keeper would be able to heal him: the pious maiden Febronia, a peasant of Laskova village in Ryazan gubernia. Saint Peter sent his emissaries to this village.

When the prince saw Saint Febronia, he fell in love with her because of her piety, wisdom and virtue, and vowed to marry her after being healed. Saint Febronia healed the prince and became his wife. The holy couple loved each other through all their ordeals. The haughty boyars did not wish to have a princess of common origin, and they urged that the prince leave her. Saint Peter refused, and so they banished the couple. They sailed off on a boat from their native city along the River Oka, and Saint Febronia continued to console Saint Peter. Soon the wrath of God fell upon the city of Murom, and the people begged the prince return together with Saint Febronia.

The holy couple was famous for their piety and charity. They died on the same day and hour, June 25, 1228, having received the monastic tonsure with the names David and Evphrosyne. The bodies of the saints were put in the same grave.

Sts Peter and Febronia showed themselves exemplary models of Christian marriage, and are considered as the patron saints of newly-weds.

Sourcec: Orthodox Church in America_OCA

RIGHTEOUS ALEAZAR AND PHINEAS, THE GRANDSON OF AARON AND SECOND HIGH PRIEST OF ISRAEL (c. 1500 B.C.)

Eleazar was Aaron's third son by his wife Elisheba. Eleazar became a priest along with his father and three brothers. He married a daughter of Putiel who bore him a son, Phinehas. After his two older brothers, Nadab and Abihu, were killed for making an unholy offering to God, and during his fathers lifetime, "he was supervisor over those who had charge of the sanctuary" (Num. 3:32). "Eleazar son of Aaron, the priest, is to have charge of the oil for the light, the fragrant incense, the regular grain offering and the anointing oil. He is to be in charge of the entire tabernacle and everything in it, including its holy furnishings and articles" (Num. 4:16).

When Aaron died at Mount Hor, Eleazar became the high priest. Before Moses died, the Lord instructed Moses to appoint Joshua as his successor, and to "stand before Eleazar the priest and all the congregation" (Num. 27:19). Eleazar served as the high priest through the rest of Moses' life and throughout Joshua's leadership in taking over Canaan.

He helped in the allotment of Canaan among the twelve tribes of Israel (Joshua 14:1-2). Eleazar was buried at Gibeah, a town belonging to Phinehas in the hill country of Ephraim. Phinehas succeeded him as high priest. In King David's day, 16 of the 24 priestly houses were descended from Eleazar, including the family of the high priest Zadok.Righteous Phinehas (Feast Day - September 2 & March 12)

Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, was a grandson of Aaron. He was a zealous priest. During the desert wandering, Phinehas killed Zimri, an Israelite, and Cozri, a Midianite woman, whom Zimri had brought into the camp (Numbers 25).

This act ended a plague by which God had judged Israel for allowing Midianite women to corrupt Israel with idolatry and harlotry. For such zeal Phinehas and his descendants were promised a permanent priesthood. “Phinehas son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron, the priest, has turned My anger away from the Israelites. Since he was as zealous for My honor among them as I am, I did not put an end to them in My zeal. Therefore tell him I am making My covenant of peace with him. He and his descendants will have a covenant of a lasting priesthood, because he was zealous for the honor of his God and made atonement for the Israelites” (Num. 25:11-13).

Phinehas became the third high priest of Israel, serving for 19 years. In other events in Phinehas' life, he accompanied an army of 12,000 in a war against Midian, in which the Israelites won decisively. He averted a war between the 10 tribes west of the Jordan, with the tribes east of the Jordan, when he learned that the altar built by the east tribes was only a reminder "that the Lord is God", and that it was not an act of idolatry.

He also conveyed the Lord's order to the Israelites to attack the tribe of Benjamin in retaliation for the rape and murder of a woman traveling through the land. In the battle, 25,100 Benjamite warriers died.

Phinehas's strong defense of the Lord's law made him a model to zealots of later generations. His descendants were among those returning from exile in Babylon.

The Righteous Phineas, grandson of the High Priest Aaron (also commemorated today) and son of the High Priest Eleazar, was also a priest and zealous in his service.

When the Israelites, after the holy Prophet Moses (September 4) led them out of Egypt, were already near the Promised Land, their neighbors the Moabites and Midianites were overcome by fear and envy. Not trusting in their own strength, they summoned the magician Balaam to put a curse on the Israelites. The Lord revealed His will to Balaam, and Balaam refused to curse the People of God, seeing that God was pleased to bless them (Num. 24:1).

Then the Moabites drew the Israelites into the worship of Baal-Peor. God punished the Jews for their apostasy, and they died by the thousands from a plague. Many, beholding the wrath of God, came to their senses and repented.

At this time a certain man named Zimri, of the tribe of the Simeon, “brought to his brethren a Midianite woman in the sight of Moses and in the sight of all the congregation of the children of Israel, and they wept at the door of the tabernacle of witness” (Num. 25:6). Phineas, filled with wrath, went into Zimri’s tent and killed both him and the Midianite woman with a spear.

“And the Lord said to Moses, ‘Phineas... has caused My wrath against the children of Israel to cease, when I was exceedingly jealous among them.... Behold, I give him a covenant of peace, and he and his descendants shall have a perpetual covenant of priesthood, because he was zealous for his God, and made atonement for the children of Israel’” (Num. 25:10-13).

After this, at the command of God, Phineas went at the head of the Israelite army against the Moabites and brought chastisement upon them for their impiety and treachery. After the death of the High Priest Eleazar, Saint Phineas was unanimously chosen as High Priest. The high priesthood, in accord with God’s promise, continued also with his posterity. Saint Phineas died at an advanced age around 1500 B.C.

SOURCE: Orthodox Christianity Then and NOW and Orthodox Chruch in America_OCA

1 Corinthians 15:1-11

1 Moreover, brethren, I declare to you the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received and in which you stand, 2 by which also you are saved, if you hold fast that word which I preached to you-unless you believed in vain. 3 For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures, 5 and that He was seen by Cephas, then by the twelve. 6 After that He was seen by over five hundred brethren at once, of whom the greater part remain to the present, but some have fallen asleep. 7 After that He was seen by James, then by all the apostles. 8 Then last of all He was seen by me also, as by one born out of due time. 9 For I am the least of the apostles, who am not worthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. 10 But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me was not in vain; but I labored more abundantly than they all, yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me. 11 Therefore, whether it was I or they, so we preach and so you believed.

Luke 6:17-23

17 And He came down with them and stood on a level place with a crowd of His disciples and a great multitude of people from all Judea and Jerusalem, and from the seacoast of Tyre and Sidon, who came to hear Him and be healed of their diseases, 18 as well as those who were tormented with unclean spirits. And they were healed. 19 And the whole multitude sought to touch Him, for power went out from Him and healed them all. 20 Then He lifted up His eyes toward His disciples, and said: Blessed are you poor, For yours is the kingdom of God. 21 Blessed are you who hunger now, For you shall be filled. Blessed are you who weep now, For you shall laugh. 22 Blessed are you when men hate you, And when they exclude you, And revile you, and cast out your name as evil, For the Son of Man's sake. 23 Rejoice in that day and leap for joy! For indeed your reward is great in heaven, For in like manner their fathers did to the prophets.

[fioredistella]

Bela was born from Slavic tribes who eventually formed the Principality of Polotsk, this was her first name as a nation. She looks back on that time period with a sense of nostalgia and sadness. She consideres it a time of great glory for her, despite her difficulties during that time due to battles with Kieven Rus, Novgorod, and the Teutonic Knights, but also something she can never go back to and so it is useless to muse too much on it. 

One of the rulers associated with Polotsk's golden age was Vseslav the Sourcer,  who ruled for fifty seven years and built the Cathedral of St Sophia in Polotsk. It was said he could transform into a wolf. Bela was fond of him and saw him as a father figure, he was also fond of her as well and took care of her when he could, treating her as a daughter. When he died on April 24 1101 she was devastated. 

Other figure who lived in Polotsk was St Euphrosyne of Polotsk, a patron saint of Belarus and possibly the granddaughter of Vseslav. Belarus knew her from her childhood and was a playmate of hers and both were fond of one another as well.  She later refused any offers or marriage and became a nun. She set up a convent and helped found a monestary along with various churches. She continued to keep in contact with Belarus in this time and the two remained friends. 

[folksaintsindex]

St. Euphrosyne of Alexandria, cross-dressing saint & ascetic

[adoptivearia]

you know Im really happy with how the anatomy turned out on this copy of st euphrosyne of polatsk <- girl who stays up late tracing church icons in the hopes that she gets better at drawing her friends' fursonas

[mysticalrose0]

St. Euphrosyne of Alexandria was born in the 5th century to devout parents who wanted her to marry.

Considering she didn't want this, but wanted to live as an ascetic, her spiritual director (and then also another monk) told her to disguse herself as a man, enter the monastery and escape her impending marriage.

The abbot ordered her into seclusion because of her extreme beauty. There she grew to love the intense solitude, only ever conversing with two men (her spiritual director and the abbot).

Her father eventually went to the monastery to find solace for his grief over the loss of his only daughter. He kept receiving from her helpful advice and comforting exhortation.

Euphrosyne eventually revealed herself to her father and said she didn't go to a convent because she knew he'd find her there.

St. Catherine of Siena took a lot of inspiration from this saint when her own parents wanted her to marry and her spiritual director told her to cut her hair short.

[hieromonkcharbel]

St. Euphrosyne of Alexandria

Commemorated on September 25

St. Euphrosyne of Alexandria was born at the beginning of the fifth century in the city of Alexandria. She was the only child in her family of illustrious and rich parents. Since her mother died early, she was raised by her father, Paphnutius, a deeply believing and pious Christian. He frequented a monastery, the leader of which was his spiritual guide.

When Euphrosyne turned eighteen, her father wanted her to marry. He went to the monastery to his spiritual guide to receive his blessing for the planned wedding of his daughter. The monk spoke with Euphrosyne and gave her his blessing, but she yearned for the monastic life.

She secretly accepted tonsure from a wandering monk, left her father’s house and decided to enter a monastery in order to lead her life in solitude and prayer. However, she feared that her father would find her in a women’s monastery. Calling herself Smaragdos, she went to the very same men’s monastery which she had visited with her father since childhood.

The monks did not recognize Euphrosyne dressed in men’s garb, and so they accepted her into the monastery. In a solitary cell, St. Euphrosyne spent 38 years in works, fasting and prayer, and attained a high level of spiritual accomplishment.

Her father grieved over the loss of his beloved daughter and more than once, on the advice of his spiritual guide, conversed with the monk Smaragdos, revealing his grief and receiving spiritual comfort. Before her death, Euphrosyne revealed her secret to her grieving father and asked that no one but he should prepare her body for burial. Having buried his daughter, Paphnutius distributed all his wealth to the poor and to the monastery, and then accepted monasticism. For ten years up to his own death, he labored in the cell of his daughter.

*************

As an ascetic you hid your womanhood

And your falling-asleep was an amazement, O Euphrosyne.

Though a woman, you toiled as a man,

And by your prayers you save those who honor you!

Desiring the life on high and forsaking all earthly pleasures,

You lived as a man among men, O Euphrosyne.

For the sake of Christ your Bridegroom,

You spurned earthly betrothal

[emelkae]

Happy STS! What greek god your OCs would be? I'm greedy and would like to hear of all of them :P @catharticallysarcastic

Thanks for the ask, @catharticallysarcastic! It's been a while since my ancient Greek phase and I needed to do some research. I'm sorry if any of these are off or inaccurate! I didn't stick to the characters' genders since some of the boys were better represented by goddesses.

All of these OCs go by he/him except for Eleni, Margot, and Ozz-rek, who have she/her pronouns.

Briar: Hebe, the diligent and hard-working goddess of youth, forgiveness and mercy.

The Engineer: Hephaestus, god of fire, blacksmiths, and artisans/craftsmen. The guy even made automatons, as well as a throne that trapped Hera in her seat (*cough* the androids' compartments...)

Eleni: Achlys, spirit of misery, "death mist" (cloudy dead eyes), poisonous flowers, and everlasting night. She's described by Hesiod this way:  “...Achlys, dismal and dejected, green and pale, dirty-dry... and off her cheeks the blood dribbled to the ground, and she stood there, grinning forever, and the dust that had gathered and lay in heaps on her shoulders was muddy with tears.”

Margot: Hecate, goddess of magic, ghosts, and crossroads, who is capable of great good and great evil.

Ozz-rek: Lyssa, spirit of frenzy, madness, and rabies. She takes no pleasure in using her powers to drive men insane, but does what she's directed to do.

Circuit: Athena, goddess of wisdom, handicraft, and strategy. And she's got a flying companion too!

Sharpe: Ares, god of savagery and brutality in war, who is often humiliated in the myths 🥲 Oof

Lug: Euphrosyne, goddess of mirth, created to fill the world with goodwill and pleasant moments.

Claw: Apollo, god of archery, protection, light, truth, healing, dance... lots of stuff. Beloved, feared, and respected, he wards off evil and protects travelers and youth.

Mobo: Horme, spirit of energetic effort, impulse, and rushing into battle 😂

[gardenofkore]

“Her name implied Joy, for among the three Graces Euphrosyne was the bestowed of joy; and Lynnaeus gave the name to a honey-coloured butterfly prettily striked with black. But this woman, familiarly known as Frosina, who was certainly young and beautiful and very probably foolish and cruel, neither gave nor received much joy in her short life; on the contrary, she proved to be, both for herself and others, a veritable harbinger of death.”

Leonardo Sciascia, Il mare colore del vino (The Wine-Dark Sea), pp. 135-6

Eufrosia (or Eufrosina) was born in Palermo around 1559. Her father was Vincenzo Siracusa, renowned and wealthy jurist, while her mother's name was Vincenza Valdaura. On September 25h 1575, the teen girl married her peer Calcerando (or Calcerano) Corbera. Her husband was the firstborn of Don Antonio Corbera, baron of Miserendino, and Elisabetta Scavuzzo. The Corbera family was a noble and ancient one. If in the past, members of the family had played important roles in the government of the Island (another Calcerando Corbera had been Vicar of the Kingdom from 1449 to 1552), by the end of XVIth century, the family was experiencing a financial crisis (they were forced to mortgage their fiefs' production), like the majority of the other Sicilian noble ones.

Wishing to replenish the family's coffers and to save its face, in 1572 Don Antonio had asked and obtained the licentia populandi (in the Kingdom of Sicily that meant the right, conceded by the King or the Viceroy, to build and populate a village) of his fief of Miserendino (located in Val di Mazara, between Sambuca and Calatamauro), where he intended to build a farmhouse and a tower. Despite obtaining the licentia, he hadn't enough money to start the works, so the title of baron of Miserendino was empty of any tangible valour.

It's then easy to understand the reason behind Eufrosia and Calcerando's marriage. The Corberas needed the Siracusas' wealth, while the latter wanted to socially raise themselves. It's even clearer  noticed in the nuptial agreements: out of the 1600 onzes part of the bride's dowry, 1200 were given cash on hand to Don Antonio Corbera. Moreover, Eufrosia's mother bestowed the couple of two fiefs (Maganuci and Traversa di Iato, in Val di Mazara), some warehouses, an oil mill, the ownership and income of many houses and buildings. Vincenza Valdaura would have kept the usufruct of her former possessions, perhaps an attempt to protect the family's belongings from the elder Corbera's greedy clutches. If that was the reason, Vincenza didn't succeed as both she and her husband died one month before their daughter's marriage. On the other hand, Antonio Corbera ceded his son the nominal title of baron of Miserendino, although he reserved the incomes derived from the barony.

Taking advantage of the fact that the young and now vulnerable  Eufrosia was now the sole heir of her considerable family fortune, Don Antonio felt he was now free to dispose of it as if it was his own. For example, two years later he forced his weak-willed son and his daughter-in-law to borrow a large sum from the Baron of Cutò to expand and embellish the palace where they all lived and for other luxurious expenses. It's no surprise Eufrosia quickly developed a burning hate towards her father-in-law, exacerbated by Calcerando's submissive character towards his despotic father.

Eufrosia's life changed drastically when she met Viceroy and Prince Marcantonio II Colonna, newly appointed Viceroy of Sicily under Felipe II of Spain. The Hero of Lepanto was 25 years older than her, brilliant, brave, hailed as the greatest man of his time. In a nutshell, Colonna was in every way the opposite of poor Calcerando.

The Baroness of Miserendino and the Viceroy met in Palermo during a banquet and it was love at first sight. Like Eufrosia, Colonna too was married. His wife, Princess Felice Orsini, belonged to one of the oldest and most important noble families in Italy and Europe.

The relationship between Eufrosia and Colonna progressed so quickly that, in a letter dated 1579, the Viceroy describes himself as having fallen so hard for Donna Eufrosina to the point of feeling as his heart had been ripped out of his chest and beating like a drum. In her answer, the woman (who admits to reciprocating his feelings) begs his Excellency to forget about her. That won't happen.

The meeting with Colonna gives Eufrosia the strength to oppose her husband and her father-in-law. She refused to pay off Don Antonio's debts and forced her husband to fictitiously donate her his property to preserve her dowry.

Her father-in-law was so piqued, he retaliated by accusing his daughter-in-law of cheating on Calcerando with a page. The poor man died after being questioned about his affair with his mistress. Since the Corbera was an esteemed noble family, nobody was charged and the page's murder was left unavenged.

In September 1580, Eufrosina found out she was pregnant with Colonna. She tried in many ways to have an abortion until she naturally miscarried in January 1581. Luckily for her, nor her husband or her father-in-law never learnt about her secret pregnancy.

When the relationship between the Viceroy and the Baroness became public knowledge, Don Antonio was enraged. He went as far as publically menacing Colonna. Fearing for his life, the Viceroy had the older Corbera arrested with the charge of insolvency. Shortly after, on February 2nd 1581, he was found mysteriously dead in his cell. It's almost certain he had been poisoned.

With her father-in-law out of the picture, Eufrosia was now freer to dispose of her financial situation. She obtained the separation of property and even sued her husband, accusing him of having paid off his debts just to please him. She obtained the return of her dowry, but she was still legally married to her husband. In debt, the baron tried to put up a brave face, thinking that openly accepting his wife's affair would have socially and economically benefitted him. In summer 1581 Calcerando accepted an offer to join a mission to quell a revolt of the Knights of Malta. The Baron  left for the island, but on August 28th he was found murdered near his Maltese habitation, he had been stabbed. Calcerando was buried in Malta as his widow didn't make any attempt to have the body transferred and buried in his family tomb.

Like it had happened on the occasion of his father's mysterious death, the Viceroy was by many accused to be the instigator behind the murder.

The couple continued their dalliances, with Eufrosia sleeping with her lover in his palace. An anecdote recounts that they were once caught red-handed by Donna Felice. To avoid been seen, a naked and barefoot Eufrosia tried to hide on the balcony. As the Vicereine entered the chamber, she immediately noticed the baroness' slippers. Long since aware of her husband's infidelity and his many lovers, Felice Orsini jokingly asked her husband if those slippers were a gift for her. When the Viceroy shamelessly answered that it was indeed so, the betrayed wife went to the balcony and foud her husband's freezing lover. The Princess then addressed Eufrosia "Bear with me, I'd like my husband all to myself tonight". She then had the baroness generously escorted home.

“Lord Marcantonio [...] was so blinded by his passion that, careless of his viceregal authority and reputation, he became a second Antony to his Cleopatra.” (Leonardo Sciascia, Il mare colore del vino, pp. 136). If the Vicereine once again closed her eyes, the people of Palermo were deeply scandalised when the Viceroy had a new fountain built by the end of the XVIth century at the end of the Colonna Promenade (and near Porta Felice!). The mermaid which decorated it, according to many, looked suspiciously a lot like the Viceroy's already famous mistress.

The lovers' happiness won't last long though. Ottavio Bonnet, a kinsman of the deceased Baron of Miserendino, took upon himself to get revenge for Don Antonio and Calcerando's death. Firstly he managed to remove little Vincenzo Corbera (Calcerando's 6 years old brother and his heir) from Eufrosia's custody. Bonnet then travelled to Madrid to accuse the Viceroy in front of the court. Bonnet's accuses were welcomed by the anti-Colonna faction, which added Corbera's dual murders to Colonna's many misdeeds and managed to have the Viceroy summoned to the capital.

In 1584 Marcantonio Colonna left Sicily, but he would never reach Madrid. On August 1st 1584, he died mysteriously in Medinaceli. According to some sources, he was poisoned by a betrayed husband.

The distraught Eufrosia sought protection from the one person who would have had all the reasons to refuse her, Felice Orsini. Instead of turning her down, the kind and sympathetic princess welcomed her deceased husband's lover to her palace in Rome. Here, the former Vicereine introduced Eufrosia to the widowed Roman nobleman Lelio Massimo. At that time, Eufrosia was 25 and still beautiful and  charming, so it was almost natural that at some point Massimo proposed to her. Unfortunately for the future couple, his sons were against this match. On June 18th 1585, a few weeks before the wedding, Eufrosia was lured by her future sons-in-law with an excuse and killed. Lelio Massimo died soon after of heartbreak, while his sons were arrested and executed.

Even the Mermaid fountain's fate was a sad one. In 1820 it was moved to Piano di Santa Teresa (nowadays Piazza Indipendenza), but twenty years later it was destroyed during the Sicilian revolution of 1848. In his stead an obelisk was erected to commemorate the martyrs of the Italian Independence.

Sources:

Leonardo Sciascia, Il mare colore del vino

Orazio Caschetto, Il Vicerè e la Baronessa

Pietro Burgarella, Calcerando Corbera in  Dizionario Biografico degli Italiani

[violetrose-art]

Voices for Gods, Goddesses, and Other Creatures

Just a list of actors and actresses who I think could do a good job playing the Gods and Goddesses of Mount Olympus from Disney's Hercules (and even a few nymphs and other creatures and characters from Greek Mythology). Tell me what you think.

Persephone: Anne Hathaway (The Grand High Witch of The Witches)

Helios: Martin Short (Edward Frankenstein of Frankenweenie)

Narcissus: Diedrich Bader (Take Evans of Surf's Up)

Eris: Hynden Walch (Princess Bubblegum of Adventure Time)

Rhea: Anjelica Huston (Queen Clarion of Tinker Bell)

Cronus: Ron Perlman (Fire Lord Sozin of Avatar: the Last Airbender)

Cupid: Johnny Depp (Ichabod Crane of Sleepy Hollow)

Psyche: Helena Bonham Carter (Emily of Corpse Bride)

Harmonia: Zoe Saldana (Captain Celaeno of My Little Pony the Movie)

Hedone: Anna Kendrick (Cinderella of Into the Woods)

Khione: Brandy (Cinderella of Rodgers and Hammerstein's Cinderella)

Phobos: Omar Benson Miller (Raph of Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles)

Deimos: Josh Brener (Donnie of Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles)

Erebus: Hoon Lee (Master Splinter of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles)

Nyx: Nicole Oliver (Zoe Trent of Littlest Pet Shop)

Aether: Hugh Jackman (Memphis of Happy Feet)

Hemera: Aimee Mann (Opal of Steven Universe)

Kakia: Rebel Wilson (Raz of Ice Age 4: Continental Drift)

Arete: Estelle (Garnet of Steven Universe)

Eos: Minae Noji (Tang Chen of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles)

Selene: Lisa Hannigan (Blue Diamond of Steven Universe)

Iris: Jill Harris (Charlie of Hazbin Hotel)

Arke: Pamela Adlon (Vidia of Tinker Bell)

Nike: Mae Whitman (Katara of Avatar: the Last Airbender)

Bia: Ashleigh Ball (Rainbow Dash of My Little Pony Friendship is Magic)

Aura: Kelly Sheridan (Barbie of Barbie in the Nutcracker)

Nephele: Cassidy Ladden (Teresa of Barbie and the Diamond Castle)

Thanatos: Lou Ferrigno (Billy of Adventure Time)

Ker: Eva Green (Angelique Bouchard of Dark Shadows)

Apate: Jill Talley (Karen of SpongeBob SquarePants)

Aletheia: Erica Luttrell (Sapphire of Steven Universe)

Leto: Octavia Spencer (Grandma of The Witches)

Themis: Esme Bianco (Eclipsa Butterfly of Star vs. the Forces of Evil)

Mnemosyne: Whoopi Goldberg (The Queen of Rodger and Hammerstein's Cinderella)

Gelos: Jess Harnell (Wakko of Animaniacs)

Elpis: Andrea Libman (Fluttershy of My Little Pony Friendship is Magic)

Metis: Tabitha St. Germain (Princess Luna of My Little Pony Friendship is Magic)

Panacea: Grey Griffin (The Tooth Fairy of The Fairly Odd Parents)

Peitho: Rashida Jones (Donna Who of The Grinch)

Fortuna: Catherine O'Hara (Sally of The Nightmare Before Christmas)

Chloris: Rachel Bloom (Batgirl of Batman vs. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles)

Thalia (blue): Madeleine Peters (Scootaloo of My Little Pony Friendship is Magic)

Agalea (purple): Claire Corlett (Sweetie Belle of My Little Pony Friendship is Magic)

Euphrosyne (pink): Michelle Creber (Apple Bloom of My Little Pony Friendship is Magic)

Minthe: Erica Lindbeck (Loona of Helluva Boss)

Leuke: Abby Elliott (Janna Ordonia of Star vs. the Forces of Evil)

Orphne: Barrett Wilbert Weed (Octavia of Helluva Boss)

Orithyia: Christine Ebersole (White Diamond of Steven Universe)

Macaria (white and green): Olivia Olson (Marceline of Adventure Time)

Melinoe (black and pink): Ashley Tisdale (Candace Flynn of Phineas and Ferb)

Cora (orange nymph): Shannon Chan-Kent (Smolder of My Little Pony Friendship is Magic)

Maia (yellow nymph): Chantal Strand (Diamond Tiara of My Little Pony Friendship is Magic)

Eliana (pink nymph): Sutton Foster (Princess Fiona of Shrek the Musical)

Arianna (green nymph): Deedee Magno-Hall (Pearl of Steven Universe)

Catalina (blue nymph): Kristin Chenoweth (Maleficent of Descendants)

Zagreus: James Maslow (James Diamond of Big Time Rush)

Arachne: Kathleen Barr (Queen Chrysalis of My Little Pony Friendship is Magic)

Lamia: Mary J. Blige (Irene Adler of Sherlock Gnomes)

Medusa: Scarlett Johansson (Princess Mindy of The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie)

Stheno: Kimberly Brooks (Jasper of Steven Universe)

Euryale: Kelly Hu (Karai of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles)

Eurydice: Britt McKillip (Princess Cadance of My Little Pony Friendship is Magic)

Phaedra: Jessica McDonald (Carrie Krueger of The Amazing World of Gumball)

Echo: Linda Cardellini (Wendy Corduroy of Gravity Falls)

If you guys have any suggestions or ideas, feel free to leave a comment. I'd love to hear what you think ^^

[oeillade]

Oh, Lord. Luke Greenwood from the Cunnery was killed while helping to clean Benjamin Bottomley’s draw-well.  Several men were handing the sediment in a tin bucket, a stone slipt down, took the poor man stooping full on the back of the head, and killed him almost instantly.

1824 August Tuesday 17

7 1/2

12 1/2

Gave Hotspur oatmeal and water — Mending my shift.  Held the stick at my back about ten minutes as I have done every morning but one since I began and I do the same every night too — letter from Mr. Duffin (Micklegate, York) — He would have liked to have gone with us to the Lakes — Still hopes we shall some time or other go to France together — Reading over my letters to Miss Maclean — At breakfast 9 50/60 — Came upstairs at 10 1/2 wrote out long memoranda of what I had to do at Halifax, etc.  Followed my aunt to Halifax in about 1/2 hour at 11 55/60 — A man stopt me to say a man that lived at the Cunnery was just killed in Benjamin Bottomley’s draw-well — Went to see — It was Luke Greenwood — James Smith and several others were trying to get him out — he had been cleaning the well — 1 of his sons and Benjamin’s parish apprentice (2 lads of 15 or 16) were handing the sediment in a tin bucket over the loose wall close to the well, a stone slipt down, took the poor man stooping full on the back of the head and nape of the neck, and killed him almost instantly — met my aunt at North gate — Left orders at Suter’s etc. left my aunt to saunter slowly and went to Mr. Sunderland’s physic-room to desire he might be sent to see in what state the poor man was and to call at Shibden and let us know — put into the Post office my letter to ‘Miss Maclean of Coll Tobermory North Britain’ vide yesterday then called with my aunt for 1/4 hour on Mrs. Catherine Rawson — Miss Bessy Stavely there — very smart and vulgar — bowed so slightly she saw I meant to cut her and instantly got up and went away — Called to beg Mr. James Briggs would be at home in the afternoon and finding I had forgotten my banking book, left my father and aunt to walk together and got home at 1 50/60 — off again at 2 1/4, after seeing my uncle — left my book at the bank and went to James Briggs — He was not to have known of Mr. Parker’s blunder about the day Bradford sessions begun but Mr. Horton would not hear of putting the matter off, till Messieurs  Washington and Parker shewed him the blundering informally — All that business about Mr. Maude was a humbug to screen Mr. Parker’s blunder which we were to know — After much talking the matter over, desiring Mr. James Briggs to take the whole charge of the business — future we agreed not to bring it forward at Leeds in October (no magistrate would be then knowing anything about it) but put it off till Wakefield sessions next January — Mr. James Briggs and I called at Mr. Parker’s lodgings to tell him, but after standing some time at the door, went away and left Mr. Briggs to tell him that without any argument about the thing, so it was to be — I had told Mr. Briggs I myself would never employ Mr. Parker then went to the library stayed there at least an hour reading the Edinburgh magazine for last January — Good condemning review of ‘Hajji Baba by the author of Anastasius’ i.e. Mr. Hope — the last as much praised as the 1st is blamed as being a bad imitation of Gil Blas and a sad falling off altogether from the powerful pages of Anastasius — the tale of Euphrosyne said to be one of the most powerful in our language — the scene in the bagnio, description of the approach to Constantinople, etc. much praised — the then last number of the quarterly review said to be 1 of the best ever published — etc. etc. — found the bank door shut — Mr. Saltmarshe’s servant gave the technical 3 raps with the end of a key and I got in and got my concerns settled — Took the whole of the balance due twenty pounds nineteen and six pence — then sat 1 20/60 hour with Mrs. Christopher Saltmarshe and just saw Mr. Saltmarshe for a few minutes before I came away — Never saw either of them more kindly civil — Emma Saltmarshe expects to be confined in February — Told them I should set off this Day-week — Had before met Major and Mrs. Priestley in the town and told them too, which saved me the trouble of writing a note — said I had not seen Mrs. Edwards of long — begged my remembrances — would call on my return — Said I was going to some friends in Paris none but Monsieur de Boyve could speak a word of English they kept a great deal of company I should stay as long as they found me agreeable about two months made several shoppings, and got home at 6 40/60 — dinner at 6 50/60 — my father and Marian called and about 7 1/2 Mr. Sunderland came  the poor man’s skull was so fractured ‘touching his skull was like touching a bag full of cockle-shells’ — he must have died as quickly as if he had been decapitated’ — the lower part of the skull the occiput quite broken and so of the vertebrae of the neck — my father and Marian went a little before 9 — Mr. Sunderland staid till 9 40/60 — Asked him about a course of medical reading — He will lend me books — Should begin with anatomy (Fyfe) then physiology, then the Materia Medica — Sir Astley Cooper’s Surgery (published at 1 1/2 guineas) excellent ‘Had the Bells written it, it would have been 2 1/2 or 3 guineas’ — Sir Astely Cooer the 1st surgeon in London — Said I should like to see the veterinary college — Consulted him about this — He will give me a note for professor Coleman, who (he thinks) will be happy to shew it (the college) to me — might ask me to attend his lectures — Mr. Sunderland is to drink tea with us and then bring me the note — He likes a little medical conversation — Coffee at 9 3/4  — Fine day — then had been a little rain just before Mr. Sunderland went away Barometer 3 1/4 degrees below changeable Fahrenheit 59° at 10 40/60 p.m. at which hour came up to bed — wrote long memoranda of today — Used the stick as usual about ten minutes E two dots underneath O no dots within —

[andijaart]

+++🙏🏻God Bless🕊️+++

St. Euphrosyne of Alexandria

MEMORIAL DAY OCTOBER 8

In you, mother, exactly what is in us in God's image has been preserved: for, taking up your cross, you followed Christ, and by deed you taught us to neglect the flesh as transitory, but to take care of the soul, an immortal creation. That is why your spirit rejoices with the Angels, Reverend Euphrosyne.

💫International Orthodox Art Corporation Andcross May the blessing of the Lord be upon you!

[orthodoxydaily]

Saints&Reading: Wednesday, February 28, 2024

february 15_february 28

ST. EUPHROSYNE, NUN, OF ALEXANDRIA (445)

Our venerable Mother Euphrosyne (Euphrosynē) was born at the beginning of the fifth century in the city of Alexandria. She was the only child of illustrious and wealthy parents. When she was twelve years old, her mother reposed, and so the girl was raised by her Father, Paphnutios, who was a very devout Christian. He was in the habit of visiting a certain monastery, where the Igoumen was his Spiritual Father.

When Euphrosyne turned eighteen, her father wanted her to marry. He went to the monastery to obtain the Igoumen's blessing for his daughter's wedding. The Igoumen talked with her and gave her his blessing, but Saint Euphrosyne longed for the monastic life. One day, she gave away her possessions to the poor, and then she snuck out of the house.

The Saint had decided to enter a monastery in order to spend her life in solitude and prayer, but she was afraid that her father was apt to find find her in a women’s monastery. Therefore, she disguised herself as a man and entered the same men's monastery which she had visited with her father from her childhood, calling herself Smaragdos. The monks did not recognize Euphrosyne dressed in men’s clothes, and so they received her into the monastery. The monks were impressed by her spiritual struggles and by her willingness to serve everyone.

There in a solitary cell, Saint Euphrosyne spent 38 years in spiritual endeavors, fasting and prayer, thereby attaining a high level of spiritual accomplishment.

Paphnutios was deeply saddened by the loss of his beloved daughter; more than once, on the advice of his Spiritual Father, he spoke to the "monk" Smaragdos, disclosing his grief and receiving spiritual comfort. Before her death, Saint Euphrosyne revealed her secret to her grieving parent and insisted that no one but he should prepare her body for burial. After he buried his daughter, Paphnutios distributed all his wealth to the poor and to the monastery, and then he was tonsured. For ten years, until the time of his own repose, he labored in his daughter's cell.

By her life, Saint Euphrosyne reminds us that we must renounce "worldly passions and live soberly, uprightly, and devoutly" (Titus 2:12). That is, after rejecting the desires of this vain and sinful world, we ought to live abstemiously, with justice toward our fellow human beings, and with piety toward God.

Saint Paphnutios and his daughter Saint Euphrosyne are both commemorated today, and once again on February 15.

ST. DALMATUS, ABBOT AND FOUNDER OF THE DORMITION MONASTERY IN SIBERIA (697)

Saint Dalmatus served in the army of the holy emperor Theodosius the Great (379-395) and attracted his notice. The saint was soon filled with the desire to dedicate himself to his Lord and Creator. Therefore, sometime between the years 381-383, he left the service of an earthly ruler in order to serve the King of Heaven. He went with his son Faustus to Saint Isaac’s monastery near Constantinople in order to speak with him. Saint Isaac (May 30) tonsured both father and son into monasticism, and they both began to lead a strict ascetic life.

Saint Dalmatus excelled all the other monks in virtue. Once, during Great Lent, Saint Dalmatus did not eat any food for the forty days. Later he regained his strength and was found worthy of a divine vision.

The holy ascetic was chosen to be the igumen after the death of the most devout Isaac. In fact, at the Third Ecumenical Council which met in Ephesus in 431 A. D. which condemned the heresy of Nestorius, Saint Dalmatus was honored for his defense of the Orthodox Faith.

After the Council the holy Fathers elevated Saint Dalmatus to be the archimandrite of his monastery, where he died peacefully at the age of ninety (after 446). He was succeeded by his son Faustus, who proved to be a worthy successor of his father.

Source: Orthodox Church in America_OCA

2 PETER 3:1-18

1 Beloved, I now write to you this second epistle (in both of which I stir up your pure minds by way of reminder), 2 that you may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us, the apostles of the Lord and Savior, 3 knowing this first: that scoffers will come in the last days, walking according to their own lusts, 4 and saying, "Where is the promise of His coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation." 5 For this they willfully forget: that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of water and in the water, 6 by which the world that then existed perished, being flooded with water. 7 But the heavens and the earth which are now preserved by the same word, are reserved for fire until the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men. 8 But, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. 9 The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. 10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up. 11 Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, 12 looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be dissolved, being on fire, and the elements will melt with fervent heat? 13 Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells. 14 Therefore, beloved, looking forward to these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless; 15 and consider that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation-as also our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given to him, has written to you, 16 as also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which untaught and unstable people twist to their own destruction, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures. 17 You therefore, beloved, since you know this beforehand, beware lest you also fall from your own steadfastness, being led away with the error of the wicked; 18 but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and forever. Amen.

MARK 13:24-31

24 But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; 25 the stars of heaven will fall, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken. 26 Then they will see the Son of Man coming in the clouds with great power and glory. 27 And then He will send His angels, and gather together His elect from the four winds, from the farthest part of earth to the farthest part of heaven. 28 Now learn this parable from the fig tree: When its branch has already become tender, and puts forth leaves, you know that summer is near. 29 So you also, when you see these things happening, know that it is near-at the doors! 30 Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all these things take place. 31 Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away.