Saint Pelagia

Who is Saint Pelagia?

Saint Pelagia is an Antiochene saint, a virgin of fifteen years, who chose death by a leap from the housetop rather than dishonour from soldiers during the Diocletianic Persecution. She is mentioned by Ambrose, and is the subject of two sermons by Chrysostom. Her festival was celebrated on 8 October, and the date of 5 October is associated with her at Naples.

In the Greek synaxaria the same day is assigned to two other saints of the name of Pelagia, one also of Antioch; the other, known as Pelagia of Tarsus, in Cilicia.

The legend of the Saint Pelagia who was a courtesan is famous. She was a celebrated dancer and courtesan, who, in the full flower of her beauty and guilty sovereignty over the youth of Antioch, was suddenly converted by the influence of the holy bishop Saint Nonnus, whom she had heard preaching in front of a church which she was passing with her attendants and admirers. Seeking out Nonnus, she overcame his canonical scruples by her tears of genuine penitence, was baptized, and, disguising herself in the garb of a male penitent, retired to a grotto on the Mount of Olives, where she died after three years of strict penance. This story seems to combine with the name of the older Pelagia some traits from an actual history referred to by Chrysostom.