It is celebrated on April 24 of each year.
Osia Elizabeth came from Heraklia in Thrace and lived in the 5th century AD. Her parents, Eunomianos and Euphimia, were famous and famous, famous for their wealth and famous for their virtue. They lived near Herakleia, in the place that used to be called Thrakokrini and later Abydinoi. They lived godly lives with Job as their model. Passionately desiring to imitate Abraham’s hospitality, they generously helped everyone who had material needs.
But sixteen years had passed since they were married and they were still childless. That is why they begged God incessantly to give them a child, heir to their family and heir to their wealth. The Lord, who satisfies the requests of His faithful, graciously heard their supplication and did not overlook their prayer.
There was an old custom in that place for Christians to gather in memory of the Holy Martyr Glyceria (honored on May 13) and celebrate a whole week. Then they were there together with the other Christians and Ossia’s parents. They performed litanies and all-night doxologies and visited the city’s temples, where the holy relics of the forty Holy Women, the deacon Amos (see September 1) and many other Saints were kept. At that time, the highly respected chariot of Agia Glykeria was litanically. But during the Divine Liturgy, which was celebrated by the Bishop of the city of Leo, Elizabeth’s father, Eunomianos, saw the holy car sometimes smiling and sometimes sad. This he regarded as a sign of his faith in the Martyr, and his soul was filled with joy and sorrow together. Together with his wife, they begged the athletic Saint, to loosen the bonds of their sterility and give them a child. So, when they fell asleep for a while, Eunomianus saw in a dream Saint Glyceria, who said to him: “Why do you trouble me, my man, and ask of me what only God can give you? But if you really give your word that you will acquire a humble heart and spirit and that you will never boast at the expense of others, I pray that the generous Lord will give you a girl through my embassies as soon as possible. You will call this Elizabeth, because she will emerge similar in soul to the mother of John the Forerunner and Baptist”.
Ossia’s father agreed that they would do what Saint Glyceria asked. Then she sealed him with the sign of the Cross and left. His wife immediately conceived and after completing nine months she gave birth to a girl.
When Elizabeth turned twelve, her mother passed away. After three years, her father also passed away. Blessed Elizabeth was left an orphan. But she immediately entrusted herself to God and distinguished herself in the ministry of the poor and the least of her brothers. She gave her property to the poor and thus with their hands she deposited it with God, while she gave the slaves their freedom.
Then he left for Constantinople. She arrived at the monastery of the Great Martyr George, which had the name “Mikros Lofos” and whose abbess there was an aunt from her father’s side. In this monastery she renounced worldly and biotic concerns and became a nun. She lived with austerity, fasting and exercise and walked barefoot. Her body never accepted to be washed with water. But she kept it clean by bathing it daily with the inexhaustible springs of her tears. This is how she reached the heights of sanctity and the Holy God granted her the gift of foresight and that of miracle-working.
Two years later the abbess of the monastery left this present life, after appointing Osia Elizabeth as her successor, who was installed by Patriarch Gennadius I (458 – 471 AD).
Osia filled with light those who approached her with faith. Once, while the Divine Liturgy was being performed in the temple, he saw an indescribable light shining and the Holy Spirit descending after the Cherubic hymn into the Altar and covering the priest who was standing in front of the Holy Altar. Osia was filled with wonder and surprise. But she did not tell this to anyone, until the time of her confession to God arrived. As her time approached, her desire – as she said – to see her homeland, was overpowering. So he came to Heraklia and worshiped the holy temples of the Saints there. And there, in the temple of Theotokos, she saw in a vision the Virgin Mary, who welcomed her. He recognized the face of the Virgin in an icon when he arrived at the temple of Hieromartyr Romanos. The voice of Panahrandou called her to return to her monastery, because the time of her sleep was near. So Osia Elizabeth, after returning back, slept in peace. Her holy relic was buried in the church of Agios Georgios, remaining intact and intact.
