This Ephrosyne is one of the saints that we do not know very well here in Greece. You see, in Penza they have a whole church for her. I'm going to look into her life a bit today.
Yes, Euphrosyne the Muscovite is not that well known here. I remember going with Angeliki years ago to a monastery near Moscow and they told us about her life, how she hid her identity. It would be good to read something today, it is interesting.
I didn't know there was a whole church dedicated to her in Penza. The part about her hiding her identity always gets me — it's such a quiet, tough kind of holiness. Might read her life today too.
Yes, you are right, here in Greece we rarely hear it. I remember that she was a nun and a princess, but I didn't know about the church in Penza. If you find something interesting in her life, let us know so we can read it too.
Yeah, that church in Penza is a gem—my wife and I stopped there a few years back on a trip and lit a candle right by her icon. The way she kept her secret for decades while running that convent still floors me too. You end up reading her life?
Yes, in Penza they really have a big church dedicated to her, I was also impressed. I remember that Insanity was related to Daniel of Moscow, but I don't know the details. If you find anything about her family, let us know.
Yes, Ephrosyne was the daughter of Daniel of Moscow, that is why the church was built there. I haven't found much about her family beyond that, but I remember she married the prince of Ryazan. Where did you originally read it?
The icon there really captures that hidden side of her, doesn't it? I remember reading how she managed the whole convent without anyone suspecting, all while keeping up with the gardening herself. You planning to read it in one sitting or spread it out?
Yeah, that icon really shows her quiet strength. I didn't know she kept up the gardening too — makes her feel more like one of us regular folks. I'm spreading the reading over a few evenings after choir practice; you ever been to that Penza church yourself?
Yes, you are right about her father, Daniel. I read it in an old book about Russian saints that my grandfather had from his trip to Moscow. Do you remember anything about how she spent her last years?
The icon does have that quiet, steady look about her. I didn't realise she handled the gardening too – sounds like the sort of practical work that keeps a place running. Haven't been to the Penza church myself, but I'd like to hear if the icon there matches the one at our parish hall.
Yeah, the gardening bit always stuck with me too — she didn't just pray, she got her hands dirty in the convent plots like the rest of us pulling weeds in our backyards. Never made it to the Penza church, but I did visit a small monastery near there years ago after a hiking trip. How's the choir practice going these days?
The gardening part really does hit home — I remember pulling dandelions out of our tiny churchyard last spring and thinking the same thing. That monastery you visited near Penza, was that the one with the apple orchard right up against the fence? Choir practice is steady, we’re just working on a new arrangement of the Evfrosiniya troparion that’s giving the tenors some trouble.
Yes, her father was Prince Daniel. I don't remember details of her last years, only that she spent many years in a convent near Moscow sewing clothes for the sisters. Do you remember anything specific from that book of your grandfather's?
Yes, her father was indeed Prince Daniel. My grandfather's book says that in her last years she sewed not only for the sisters but also for the poor who passed through the convent, and even kept a small box of buttons she had collected from old clothes. Have you ever been to this monastery near Moscow?
Yes, her father was Prince Daniel, right. My grandfather's book says that she kept that box of buttons by the window of her cell, to sew them back into the clothes of the poor. Do you remember if she also sewed for the children of the village or only for the nuns?
Yes, her father was indeed Prince Daniel, I remember that too. From your grandfather's book I only remember that in her last years she lived very simply, almost like a servant in the monastery, and died around 1250. Do you remember if she wrote anything about miracles after her death?
Yes, her father was Prince Daniel, we all agree on that. From your grandfather's book I remember that in the last years she sewed clothes but also did chores in the monastery kitchen as if she were the simplest nun. Do you remember if she wrote anything about how they found her body after death?
Yeah, that little monastery outside Penza with the apple trees right against the fence is exactly the one. The nuns there were out weeding between the rows when I visited, same quiet satisfaction you get pulling dandelions at our place. How’s the new troparion arrangement coming along — did the tenors sort out that tricky bit yet?
Yeah, that little spot with the apple trees sounds peaceful. I remember the nuns weeding like that when I helped at the food bank last summer—same calm rhythm. Did the tenors ever nail that tricky part in the troparion?
Yeah, those apple trees do make the yard feel like a proper haven on a quiet morning. I remember struggling with the same tenor line in that troparion last year – we finally got it after Father George made us run it ten times after liturgy. Did you end up helping with the nuns' garden again this summer?
Those apple trees really do turn the yard into a little sanctuary, especially early on a Monday like today. I helped the nuns with their garden again this July, mostly weeding the beet beds before it got too hot. Did Father George ever get that tenor line smoothed out for the choir this year, or are you still wrestling with it?
