Saint Pelagia
Saint Pelagia (born c. 4th century AD in Antioch, Syria; died c. 460 AD on the Mount of Olives, Jerusalem) was a famous actress and dancer of Antioch who underwent a dramatic conversion to Christianity and subsequently lived as a hermit on the Mount of Olives in Jerusalem, disguised as a male monk under the name Pelagius. Her story became one of the most widely circulated tales of conversion and penance in the medieval Church. Her feast day is October 8.
Stored in Cargo: Saint Pelagia
| Saint Pelagia | |
|---|---|
| Feast Day | October 08 |
| Profession | Actress and entertainer (before conversion); hermit; penitent; cross-dressing ascetic (historical hagiographic category) |
| Rel. Affiliation | Catholic Church; Eastern Orthodox Church; Antioch; Jerusalem; Eastern Christian hagiographic tradition; penitent women saints; Desert Father/Mother tradition |
| Patronage | Actresses; penitent women; those who make dramatic conversions; Jerusalem; those who give up glamour for God; converts from worldly life |
| Attributes | Actress's clothes transforming into monk's habit; cross (conversion); skull and bones (memento mori); the Mount of Olives; her previous luxury (jewelry, etc.) given away |
| Birthplace | Antioch, Syria (modern Antakya, Turkey) |
| Death Place | Mount of Olives, Jerusalem |
| Cause of Death | Natural death after years of extreme penance as a hermit on the Mount of Olives; her true identity as a woman was discovered only after her death; she was found emaciated but at peace; she died after a long period of solitary contemplative life |
| Primary Shrine | Church of the Pater Noster / Eleona, Mount of Olives, Jerusalem — the area of her hermitage; venerated broadly in the Jerusalem Christian community; relics distributed to Eastern churches |
| Liturgical Class | Optional Memorial (Roman Rite); October 8; Feast in Byzantine Rite |
| Historic Class | Not in universal 1962 calendar |
Biography
Pelagia was a celebrated actress and dancer of Antioch, nicknamed "the Pearl" for her beauty and luxury. She lived in conspicuous wealth surrounded by admirers.
While a council of bishops met at Antioch, she passed by in a magnificent procession. The Bishop Nonnus wept at the sight and prayed for her conversion. He later preached a sermon she happened to hear; she was moved to profound contrition. She approached him, requesting baptism. He baptized her.
She gave away all her wealth and possessions to the poor, disguised herself as a man under the name Pelagius, and traveled to Jerusalem. She settled as a hermit in a cell on the Mount of Olives, known to the local monastic community as the holy monk Pelagius.
She spent years in extreme penance and prayer. When she died, those who came to prepare her body discovered she was a woman. The story of her conversion and penance became one of the most widely circulated hagiographic texts of the medieval world, translated into every major Christian language.
Significant locations
Legend
Birth location: Antioch, Syria (modern Antakya, Turkey)
Death location: Mount of Olives, Jerusalem
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Parishes
No parishes dedicated to Pelagia have been added to the database yet.
Media
| Media | Length | AuthorCreator |
|---|---|---|
| Prayer to St. Pelagia | Under 5 minutes | Joy of Heaven |
| The Story of St. Pelagia || Feast Day : Oct. 08 | Under 5 minutes | Joy of Heaven |
| St Pelagia, Virgin and Martyr of Antioch and St John Henry Newman | October 8 | 5–15 minutes | Saints Stories |
| St. Pelagia: Rome’s Most Famous Sinner Turned Saint | Under 5 minutes | The One Minute Catholic |
Shrines
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Known shrines
- Mount of Olives, Jerusalem — site of her hermitage; broadly venerated in the Jerusalem Christian community.
Feast day
October 8
Veneration
Saint Pelagia — the penitent actress of Antioch — is venerated as the archetypal convert from worldly to spiritual life. Her story, recorded by the deacon James, was one of the most widely read hagiographic texts of the medieval Church. Her feast is October 8.
Prayers
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Intercessory
There are no prayers asking for this saint's intercession in prayers list yet.