Saint Cleopatra
Saint Cleopatra (died c. 319 AD in Scythopolis, Palestine, now Beit She'an, Israel) was a Christian widow venerated as a saint in the Eastern Church. She is honored for translating the relics of the martyr Saint Varus from Egypt to Palestine and building a church in his honor. Her son John died on the day of the relics' dedication — and she was consoled by a vision of Saint Varus presenting John before Christ. Her feast day is October 19 in the Eastern Orthodox Church.
Stored in Cargo: Saint Cleopatra
| Saint Cleopatra | |
|---|---|
| Feast Day | October 19 |
| Profession | Christian widow; benefactress; relic translator |
| Rel. Affiliation | Early Church; Eastern Christianity |
| Patronage | Widows; bereaved mothers |
| Attributes | Widow's garment; reliquary (translating the relics of Saint Varus) |
| Birthplace | Palestine (traditional) |
| Death Place | Scythopolis (Beit She'an), Northern District, Israel |
| Cause of Death | Natural causes; died of grief and consolation |
| Liturgical Class | Not included in Roman Calendar; feast in Eastern Orthodox and Eastern Catholic churches |
| Historic Class | Not included |
Biography
Cleopatra was a Christian widow of Scythopolis (modern Beit She'an in Israel) in the early 4th century. She is known from the Acts of Saint Varus, preserved by the historian Nikephoros Kallistos. Saint Varus was a Roman soldier martyred in Egypt during the Maximian persecution (around 307 AD), whose body was preserved by a group of Christian monks, one of whom was killed alongside him (traditionally named John).
Cleopatra's husband had been a soldier stationed in Egypt; she recovered the relics of Varus and brought them back to Palestine. There she built a church (a martyrion) at Edra, a village near Scythopolis, to enshrine them. On the day of the dedication of the church (October 19), her young son John — who had just been enrolled as a soldier — suddenly died.
Cleopatra was shattered with grief. But during the night she had a vision: she saw Saint Varus presenting her son before Christ in glory, clothed in light. John smiled at her and told her not to grieve. She died peacefully shortly after. Her son was buried beside the relics of Saint Varus in the martyrion she had built.
Her feast is October 19 in the Eastern Orthodox Church, together with Saint Varus.
Significant locations
Legend
Birth location: Palestine (traditional)
Death location: Scythopolis (Beit She'an), Northern District, Israel
Notable location: The city near which she built the church for the relics of Saint Varus; where her son died and was buried beside the martyr (Beit She'an (Scythopolis), Northern District, Israel)
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Feast day
October 19
Veneration
Saint Cleopatra is venerated in the Eastern Orthodox and Eastern Catholic churches with a feast day on October 19.
Prayers
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