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The Monastic Women Xanthippa and Polyxenia Commemorated on September 23 The Monastic Women Xanthippa and
Polyxenia were sisters by birth and they lived in Spain during the time of
the holy Apostles. They were among the first to hear the Divine teaching of
Christ the Saviour from the holy Apostle Paul, when he preached in their land.
Saint Xanthippa together with her husband Probus accepted Christianity, but
Saint Polyxenia was still a paganess, when a certain man became entranced with
her extraordinary beauty and forcibly carried her off to Greece. But the Lord
preserved her unharmed. On the ship voyage, the saint heard the preaching of
the holy Apostle Peter and believed in Christ. Upon arriving in Greece Saint
Polyxenia turned to the Christians for protection and defense and was hidden by
them in the city of Patra in the Achaia region, where she formal acceptance
Christianity and was baptised by the holy Apostle Andrew the First-Called
himself. She became a witness to his miracles, and also to his patient and
humble endurance of his sufferings and death. She stood at the cross upon which
they crucified the holy Apostle Andrew. After his martyr's end, Saint Polyxenia
returned to Spain, where together with her older sister Xanthippa she converted
many a pagan to Christ. Saint Polyxenia toiled for about forty years at
preaching the Gospel in Spain. Saint Xanthippa shared in the exploit and toil
of her sister and preached in the populous city of Toledo. © 1996-2001 by translator Fr. S. Janos. |
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