The Lives of Orthodox Women
"He who follows righteousness and mercy will find life, righteousness, and honor." Proverbs 21:21
The Lives of Orthodox Women
Saint Xene
Written by Monica Mikhail~Saint Xene, formerly Irene of Hungary and Empress of Constantinople, was the daughter of King Ladislas of Hungary. Her abundant virtues at a young age showed that she would be an exceptional person in the future. There came a time when Emperor Alexios I...
Saints Thecla, Mariamne, Martha, Mary, and Ennatha of Persia
Written by Monica Mikhail~During the reign of the Persian ruler Sapor in 330 A.D., there was a convent that housed five nuns named Thecla, Mariamne, Martha, Mary, and Ennatha who were headed by Father Paul. He was responsible for performing the liturgical services which were...
St. Anthousa of Mandineo
Written by Monica Mikhail~The honorable St. Anthousa lived with her righteous parents, Strategious and Fevronia, during the reign of Emperor Constantine V. Those were terrible days of persecution for the emperor was an iconoclast, but Anthousa desired to live a pious life holding...
Saint Theodora of Caesarea in Cappadocia
Written by Monica Mikhail~Theophilos, an aristocrat, and Theodora, a descendant of a distinguished family, were loyal servants of the Lord who were respected in society but, despite that, they were saddened by the fact that they were not blessed with a child. Theodora wept,...
Saint Marina of Antioch
Written by Stephanie Abrahim~On the fifteenth day of the blessed month of Mesra, the church celebrates the commemoration and departure of the nun, St. Marina. Originally known as Mariam in her youth, she was born in the home of a rich Christian father who had plans of...
Saint Justina of Antioch
Written by Monica Mikhail ~During the reign of Emperor Decius, there lived a certain young woman of Antioch named St. Justina who desired to learn about the Lord with all her being after hearing about His death, resurrection, and ascension from the mouth of a deacon who happened to...
Saint Evdokia of Heliopolis
Written by Monica Mikhail~Through the grace of God, a previously lost woman arose from her sins that were preventing her from living a righteous life and abandoned her lustful ways in order to seek her beloved Savior Jesus Christ. This blessed woman is St. Evdokia who is originally...
Saint Thecla of Iconium
Written by Monica Mikhail~The honorable Saint Thecla, who is known in the Orthodox tradition as the proto-martyr among women and equal to the apostles, for even though she was not killed for defending her faith, she led a life of suffering and isolation from the world the moment she...
Saint Nino
Written by Monica Mikhail ~Saint Nino was born in Cappadocia and was the only daughter to the Roman general Zabulon and Susana. When she was twelve years old, she was given to an elder woman, Nianfora, to be brought up. Everyday Nino prayed and read the Holy Scripture resulting in a...
Saint Sarah the Nun
Written by Lauren Hanna~Saint Sarah was the only child of two rich, Christian parents from Upper Egypt. Her parents taught her how to read and write; she grew particularly interested in reading the biographies and sayings of the Church Fathers. She was greatly influenced by...
Saint Mary of Egypt
Written by Marina Mikhael ~ The story of Saint Mary of Egypt starts with Father Zossima. Father Zossima was traveling through the woods near the Jordan River when he saw a black shadow and followed it. The shadow began to run and Father Zossima...
Saint Matrona of Chios
Written by Monica Mikhail ~The holy mother Matrona, originally named Mary after the holy Theotokos, was one of seven daughters born to Anna and Leon. They lived holy Christian lives in the northwestern coast of the island of...
Saints Barbara and Julianna
Written by Jennifer Abrahim ~Saint Barbara lived during the end of the third century; a time of turmoil and disease. Her father, Diosocorus, was a wealthy governor who lived in a large and beautiful palace. He was a pagan, like the majority of others during this time,...
Saints Atrasis and Yoana
Written by Marina Tawadrous ~The lives of Saints Atrasis and Youana are very influential. They impacted the lives of many other saints, one of which was Saint Marina the Martyr.
Atrasis was born to the pagan emperor Hadrian. Because he loved her so much, he built a special, small...
Saint Anastasia of Constantinople
Written by Monica Mikhail ~St. Anastasia was born into a noble family in the city of Constantinople. She was known by everyone for her beauty and possession of great moralistic qualities. At this time, Emperor Justin ruled over Constantinople and noticing Anastasia,...
Saints Rhipsimia, Gaïane, and 32 Virgin Martyrs of Rome and Armenia
Written by Monica Mikhail ~During the reign of Diocletian, Saints Rhipsimia and 70 other nuns lived in a convent in Rome that was headed by Mother Gaïane.
There came a time that Emperor Diocletian was looking to take a wife. Once Rhipsimia’s beauty and...
Mother Irini
Written by Stephanie Abrahim ~Mother Irini, Abbess of St. Philopateer Mercurius (Abu-Seifein) Convent in Old Cairo, Egypt, was an admirable woman known as the “Modern Desert Mother” of the 21st Century. Mother Irini is remembered for bringing to light...
Saints Marana and Kyra of Beroea
Written by Monica Mikhail ~Saints Marana and Kyra were Syrian women that came from Beroea, currently known as Aleppo. These two noblewomen of excellent lineage became holy Mothers, being praised by Bishop Cyril Theodoratos for their extreme and committed practice of...
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