Venerable, Right-Believing Princess Euphrosyne of Suzdal (secular name Feodulia)

Venerable Euphrosyne of Suzdal was born in 1212 with the secular name Feodulia — the eldest daughter of the holy Right-Believing Prince Michael Vsevolodovich of Chernigov (who suffered a martyr's death in the Golden Horde in 1246 for refusing a pagan idol-worship rite) and his wife Feofania. At fifteen she was betrothed to Prince Feodor Yaroslavich, brother of St. Alexander Nevsky, but her betrothed died shortly before the wedding. Feodulia then took monastic vows at the Convent of the Deposition of the Robe in Suzdal under the name Euphrosyne, in honor of Venerable Euphrosyne of Alexandria. She became renowned for severe fasting and unceasing prayer, for guiding the sisters of the convent (teaching on love, prayer, obedience, and humility), and, according to tradition, for the gift of foresight: she foretold her father's martyrdom, and through her prayers the convent was preserved from destruction during the Mongol invasion of 1238. Although she never formally held the office of abbess, she remained the spiritual center of the monastery until her death on September 25, 1250. She was canonized in 1698 under Patriarch Adrian following miracles at her incorrupt relics.