Venerable Basilissa of Antinoe

Venerable Basilissa, a noblewoman of the Egyptian city of Antinoe, was given in marriage by her parents to the devout young man Julian. By mutual consent, both spouses decided to preserve their virginity and devote themselves to the service of God and their neighbors. They established two separate monasteries in their spacious home — one for men, headed by Julian, and one for women, headed by Basilissa — as well as hospitals where they cared for the poor, travelers, and the sick, often personally tending to them. Many of those they healed in soul and body turned to Christ. Venerable Basilissa reposed before her husband, who continued his ascetic and charitable work until his own martyrdom during the persecution under Emperor Diocletian.