Saint
Euphrosyne, in the world Eudokia, was the daughter of the Suzdal prince
Demetrius Constantovich (+ 1383), and from 1367 was the wife of the
Moscow Great Prince Demetrius of the Don. Their happy union was for
Russia a pledge of unity and peace between Moscow and Suzdal.
Saint Alexis, Metropolitan of Moscow, and even
Saint Sergius of Radonezh, who baptized one of the sons of Demetrius and
Eudokia, had a great influence upon the spiritual life of Princess
Eudokia. Saint Demetrius of Priluki was the godfather of another son.
The holy princess was a builder of churches. In
1387 she founded the Ascension women's monastery in the Moscow Kremlin.
In 1395, during Tamerlane's invasion into the southern regions of
Russia, the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God was transferred to Moscow
upon her advice, miraculously defending the Russian land. During Lent,
the princess secretly wore chains beneath her splendid royal garb. By
her patronage the famous icon of the Archangel Michael was painted, and
later became the patronal icon of the Kremlin's Archangel Cathedral.
After raising five sons (a sixth died in
infancy), the princess was tonsured as a nun with the name Euphrosyne.
She completed her earthly journey on July 7, 1407 and was buried in the
Ascension monastery she founded.
An old Russian church poem has survived, the
lament of the princess for her husband, who had died at the age of
thirty-nine.
Saint Euphrosyne is also commemorated on May
17.
