09 works, Today, October 8th, is Saint Pelagia's day, her story illustrated #280

Unknown artist

Saint Pelagia beating the devil

Saint Marina beating the devol, c. 19th century

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Byzantine and Christian Museum, Athens

Lellou Georgia

Saint Pelagia

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Lellou Georgia was born in Athens. Studied free drawing and Byzantine hagiography. Is a member of the Chamber of Arts of Greece.

Lellou is a professional hagiographist, drawer of portal pictures and temple frescoes; an artist since 1990. Her works are in private collections temples and monasteries in Greece and abroad. Has taken part in many personal and group exhibitions.

In 2002 she cooperated with the publishing house “Saitis” for the illustration of holy persons and holy cases of the Orthodox hagiology. More on Lellou Georgia

Pelagia's story, attributed to Jamesor Jacob, deacon of the church of modern Baalbek. He states that Margarita, the Latin equivalent of "Pelagia,  was the "foremost actress" and a prominent harlot in Antioch. 

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Saint Pelagia and her courtesans; while Saint Nonnus prays, c. 14th century

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During one of the city's church councils, she passed by on a donkey surrounded by her entourage and a "worldly crowd". Perfumed and "immodestly bareheaded", the outlines of her body were "clearly visible" beneath her gold cloth, pearls, and precious stones, which ran from her bare shoulders to her feet. Most of the fathers were shamed into looking away, but the bishop Nonnus stared openly and confessed himself "delighted". Mocking his fellows, he condemned both them and himself for taking less care of their souls than she had of her body.

Unknown artist

Bishop Nonnus gazing upon the semi-naked actress-dancer Pelagia as she paraded past him

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She appeared at his next Sunday sermon and Nonnus's sermon on hell and the goodness of paradise prompted her to repent. She had two of her slaves trail Nonnus to his residence and then wrote him on wax tablets, calling herself "sinful" and a "servant of the devil" but seeking mercy from God, who "came down to earth not for the sake of the righteous but to save sinners". Nonnus replied to the anonymous request that God knew her and her past and that he would receive her, but only in the presence of the other bishops.

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Saint Pelagia with Saint Nonnus and Romana

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She went to the basilica of Saint Julian to see them; when Nonnus demanded surety that she would not return to her former life, she fell to the ground and threatened that if she were refused admission to the Church, all her future sins would be held against him at his judgment. 

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Venerable Pelagia was converted to Christianity by Bishop None of Edessa

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The archbishop was informed and sent the deaconess Romana to clothe her in the baptismal gown. Nonnus took her confession and baptized "Margarita" under her birth name Pelagia, with Romana serving as her godmother.

Unknown artist

Saint Pelagia with The devil

Saint Marina

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Ochrid – Icon Gallery

The devil shortly afterward arrived to complain, but was driven off when Pelagia made the Sign of the Cross and breathed upon him. He returned the next night to renew his complaints and was driven off the same way. On the third day, Pelagia directed her steward to inventory her possessions. She then turned them over to Nonnus, who disbursed them to the widows, orphans, and poor of the city. She freed her slaves, male and female, "taking their golden torcs off with her own hands". She then began living with Romana.

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Pelagia praying

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The night before it came time to remove her baptismal gown, she stole out in the dark wearing one of Nonnus's chitons. She headed for Jerusalem, where she built a cell on the Mount of Olives. She lived there for three or four years, disguising herself as a male recluse and eunuch under the name Pelagius. She then died, apparently as a result of extreme asceticism, which had emaciated her to the point she could no longer be recognized. 

Cretan workshop, second half of 16th century

St. Pelagia

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According to Orthodox tradition, Pelagia was buried in her cell. Upon the discovery that the renowned monk had been a woman, the "holy fathers" tried to keep it a secret, but the gossip spread and her relics drew pilgrims from as far off as Jericho and the Jordan valley. More on Saint Pelagia

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