Eudokia of Heliopolis
Encyclopedia
Eudokia was a Samarian woman who lived in Heliopolis of Phoenicia (present day Baalbek
, Lebanon
, which was then part of greater Syria
). She was a very beautiful pagan, and garnered her wealth by attracting wealthy lovers.
Eudokia learned about Christianity
from a monk
by the name of Germanos. According to legend, Eudokia asked him if she, too, could be saved from Judgment. Germanos instructed her to remain alone in her chamber for one week, fasting and praying. Eudokia followed his instructions, and at the end of the week, she had a vision about the Archangel Michael that assured her of Christ's love for all people. Germanos later baptized her.
At age 30, Eudokia commissioned the building of a monastery near Baalbeck, and dispensed much of her wealth in various charitable projects. She rejected all of her suitors, and when one persistent suitor named Philostratos was struck down because of his persistence, Eudokia prayed for him until he recovered. Philostratos then converted to Christianity.
Eudokia persuaded many pagans to convert to Christianity. Syrian officials were angered by her actions, and had her beheaded on March 1, 107 AD.
In Romanian
folklore, the figure of Baba Dochia
is thought to have taken her name from Eudokia.
Baalbek
Baalbek is a town in the Beqaa Valley of Lebanon, altitude , situated east of the Litani River. It is famous for its exquisitely detailed yet monumentally scaled temple ruins of the Roman period, when Baalbek, then known as Heliopolis, was one of the largest sanctuaries in the Empire...
, Lebanon
Lebanon
Lebanon , officially the Republic of LebanonRepublic of Lebanon is the most common term used by Lebanese government agencies. The term Lebanese Republic, a literal translation of the official Arabic and French names that is not used in today's world. Arabic is the most common language spoken among...
, which was then part of greater Syria
Syria
Syria , officially the Syrian Arab Republic , is a country in Western Asia, bordering Lebanon and the Mediterranean Sea to the West, Turkey to the north, Iraq to the east, Jordan to the south, and Israel to the southwest....
). She was a very beautiful pagan, and garnered her wealth by attracting wealthy lovers.
Eudokia learned about Christianity
Christianity
Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
from a monk
Monk
A monk is a person who practices religious asceticism, living either alone or with any number of monks, while always maintaining some degree of physical separation from those not sharing the same purpose...
by the name of Germanos. According to legend, Eudokia asked him if she, too, could be saved from Judgment. Germanos instructed her to remain alone in her chamber for one week, fasting and praying. Eudokia followed his instructions, and at the end of the week, she had a vision about the Archangel Michael that assured her of Christ's love for all people. Germanos later baptized her.
At age 30, Eudokia commissioned the building of a monastery near Baalbeck, and dispensed much of her wealth in various charitable projects. She rejected all of her suitors, and when one persistent suitor named Philostratos was struck down because of his persistence, Eudokia prayed for him until he recovered. Philostratos then converted to Christianity.
Eudokia persuaded many pagans to convert to Christianity. Syrian officials were angered by her actions, and had her beheaded on March 1, 107 AD.
In Romanian
Romanians
The Romanians are an ethnic group native to Romania, who speak Romanian; they are the majority inhabitants of Romania....
folklore, the figure of Baba Dochia
Baba Dochia
In Romanian mythology, Baba Dochia, or The Old Dokia, is a figure identified with the return of spring. She is sometimes imagined as “an old woman who insults the month of March when she goes out with a herd of sheep or goats.” Her name probably originates from the Byzantine calendar, which...
is thought to have taken her name from Eudokia.