Saint Eupraxia, Princess of Pskov

Saint Eupraxia, Princess of Pskov (Euphrosynē in the world), was the daughter of Prince Rogvol'd Borisovich of Polotsk, and the aunt of the holy Prince Dovmont-Timothy (May 20). She was also the wife of Prince Yaroslav Vladimirovich of Pskov. Prince Yaroslav fled from Pskov to Livonia, and there he married a German woman. Together with the Teutonic knights he made several incursions into the Russian lands, and in 1231 he captured Izborsk. After her husband's departure, Euphrosynē devoted herself to works of piety. In the year 1243, she built a monastery on the banks of the Velika River and dedicated it to Saint John the Forerunner. It is believed that she became its Superior.

Invited to Livonia to meet with her former husband in the city of Odenpa (Bear’s Head), Saint Eupraxίa was murdered (May 8, 1243) by a stepson, more accurately, Yaroslav's son by his German wife. She was buried in the church of the monastery that she founded.

Ten days after Saint Eupraxia's martyrdom, a miracle occurred over her grave, when myrrh issued from an icon of the Savior. The icon was called “The myrrh-streaming Savior."¹ Saint Eupraxίa appears on two icons. In one, she is depicted at prayer with Saint John the Forerunner and the Holy Apostle Andrew the First-Called. The other icon is beside the wonderworking icon of the Savior.

Saint Eupraxίa is commemorated on October 16, the day of martyrdom, and on the Third Sunday after Pentecost (Synaxis of the Pskov Saints).

¹ "Спаситель Мироточивый."