Today, Wednesday (June 25, 2025), according to the church calendar, we honor Saint Livy, Saint Eros, and Saint Euphrosyne of Febrynia, Duchess of the Russians. The names celebrated today include: Libius, Libas, Libi, Eros, Erotas, Febrynia, Fevronia, Fevra, Phuvra, Fevroo, Fevrula, Fevronitsa.
Saint Febrynia was a sought-after maiden admired for her physical beauty. However, her pure soul shone just as brightly. At the age of 17, she chose the path of asceticism and abstinence at a monastery led by her aunt Bryenne, located in Mesopotamia near Nisibis. Despite her young age, she quickly adapted to the demanding rules of monastic life while also finding time to study and delve into the Holy Scriptures. She became an example among other nuns due to her wisdom, zeal, humility, and willingness to serve.
One day, a military unit that persecuted Christians, led by Selino (288 AD), arrived at Febrynia’s monastery. While most nuns managed to escape, Saint Febrynia, being ill, could not flee. Only Abbess Bryenne and Sister Thoma remained with her. When soldiers saw Febrynia, they were amazed by her beauty and left three men to guard her while reporting back to their leader, Selino. He immediately ordered her brought before him and pressured her to renounce her faith. He proposed marrying her off to his nephew Lysimachus for great glory. However, Febrynia preferred becoming ‘a partaker of the future revelation of glory’ (1 Peter 5:1). She chose to be a participant in the glory that would be revealed during Christ’s second coming. With immense courage, she rejected Selino’s offers. After torturing her, he ultimately executed her with a sword.