Tuesday, September 21, 2010

Euphrosyne of Polotsk

The daughter of Duke Svyatoslav (Wenceslaus) of Polotsk, Euphrosyne became a recluse at an early age at the Holy Wisdom Cathedral in Kiev. She copied books and gave her earnings to the poor; she founded a monastery at Seltse.

In the early 1170's, she took a pilgrimage to Constantinople and to the Holy Land. Patriarch Michael II gave her an icon of the Theotokos, which is now called the Virgin of Korsun. The Crusader king, Amaury I, received her in the Holy Land.

Euphrosyne died at Jerusalem (1173), and her body was returned to Kiev for burial.

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