All Religious Medals are Customizable. We can change the spelling, your language, names
etc,
ex: change "Pray for Us" to "Pray For Me". Just let us know in "special instructions"
if you would like it for a charm bracelet, request a split ring instead of a bail in the
"special instructions"
The holy and righteous Emilia (also Emily or Emmelia), is the mother of Saint Basil the Great and several other
children who are saints of the Church. Churches of the Russian tradition keep her feast on January 3, along
with her
son Basil. Greek churches keep her feast on May 30, along with her husband Saint Basil the Elder and her
mother-in-
law, Saint Macrina the Elder.
There are very few descriptions of Saint Emilias life. She was the daughter of a martyr and the daughter-in-law
of
Macrina the Elder. Along with her husband, Basil the Elder, she gave birth to ten children. She instilled the
Orthodox faith in her children, teaching them to pray and devote their lives to the service of the Church. As a
result of her zealous yet maternal instruction of her children, five of them are commemorated as saints on the
Church
calendar: Sts. Macrina, Basil, Peter of Sebaste, Gregory of Nyssa, and Theosebia, a deaconess. Therefore, Saint
Emilia is often called the mother of saints.
When her son, Naucratius, suddenly died at the age of twenty-seven, she was consoled by her eldest daughter,
Macrina.
Macrina reminded her that it was not befitting to a Christian to mourn as those who have no hope and inspired
her to
hope courageously in the resurrection vouchsafed to us by the Pascha of the Lord.
After her children left home, St. Emilia was persuaded by Macrina to forsake the world. Together they founded a
monastery for women. Emilia divided the family property among her children. Retaining only some meager
possessions,
she and Macrina withdrew to a secluded family property in Pontus, picturesquely located on the banks of the
Iris
River and not far from Saint Basils wilderness home. A number of liberated female slaves desired to join the
pair,
and a convent was formed. They lived under one roof and held everything in common: They ate, worked, and prayed
together. They were so eager to advance in virtue that they regarded fasting as food and poverty as riches. The
harmony of this model community of women was unspoiled by anger, jealousy, hatred, or pride. Indeed, as the
Church
sings of monastics, they lived like angels in the flesh.
Living in this manner for many years, Emilia reached old age. When an illness signaled her departure from this
world,
her son Peter came to her side. Together with Macrina, he tended to his mother in her last days. As the oldest
and
the youngest, Macrina and Peter held a special place in Emilias heart.
Before committing her soul to the Lord, she raised her voice to Heaven, saying, To you, O Lord, I give the
first
fruits and the tithe of the fruit of my womb. The first fruit is my first-born daughter, and the tithe is this,
my
youngest son. Let these be for you a rightly acceptable sacrifice, and let your holiness descend upon them! St.
Emilia was buried as she had requested, beside her husband in the chapel at their estate in Annesi, where
Naucratius
had also been laid.
Item can be engraved with message, names, dates or monogram.
Engraving doesn't delay your shipment.
Available in Solid 10K &14K Yellow or White Gold, or Sterling Silver
Is a Chain Included? You can choose which chain to add to your order when checking out
Pendant Bail - fits up to 4mm chain. We can make bail larger, just let us know in the special instructions upon ordering
All Sterling Silver is protected with a tarnish resistance to help it last for years without tarnishing.
