(CE:1069b)
EUPHROSYNA, SAINT, fifth-century holy person of Alexandria. Since her father, Paphnutius, wished to betroth her, she cut off her hair and, disguised as a man (Patlagean, 1976), fled to a monastery, the location of which is not indicated. She took the name of Smaragda. After thirty-eight years spent in this monastery, she died at the very moment when her father, having searched everywhere, finally found her. She expressed her wish that she not be washed in the customary manner, and before her death she recounted her story.
We ought not to confuse her (feast: 4 or 9 Amshir) with her namesake, a martyr in Syria whose biographical notice has passed into the recension of the Copto-Arabic SYNAXARION from Upper Egypt at 12 Tubah.
The Luxor manuscript that gives the complete notice is unpublished (Coquin, 1978, p. 361).
RENÉ-GEORGES COQUIN
Claremont Coptic Encyclopedia
