Venerable
Venerable Theophanes of Antioch
IV в., † 369
Also known as: Феофан Антиохийский и Пансемна, Theophanes and Pansemne of Antioch
A fourth-century ascetic of Antioch who, after his wife's death, was baptized and became a hermit; he converted the harlot Pansemne, who became an ascetic and died on the same day as him (c. 369).
Venerable Theophanes lived in fourth-century Antioch, the son of pagan parents. Married young at his parents' insistence, he was widowed after three years; he then received baptism, left everything and lived as an ascetic in a small cell outside the city, teaching those who came to him to keep God's commandments and to live chastely.
Learning of a harlot named Pansemne who had led many people of the city into sin, he resolved to save her. After long prayer he dressed in fine clothes, took gold from his father, gave it to her and offered to marry her on one condition: that she be baptized. While preparing her for baptism he instructed her in the faith. Once baptized, Pansemne changed her life completely: she gave away all she had gained by her trade, settled in a hut next to his cell and lived as an ascetic. According to the Russian Life she died twenty-two months later (the Greek Synaxarion says fourteen), on the same day as her teacher, about 369.
Feast: 10 (23) June; the Greek Church commemorates Theophanes and Pansemne together.