Eugene of Bithynia

Holy Venerable Eugene of Bithynia lived at the beginning of the sixth century in Bithynia, in the north-⁠west of Asia Minor, together with his daughter, Holy Venerable Mary, called Marinus. Left a widower, Eugene resolved to enter a monastery, but his daughter would not part from him and accompanied him, dressed as a man. They entered together a monastery not far from Alexandria, where Mary received the name Marinus.

Brother Marinus advanced greatly in virtues, distinguished by humility and obedience. When after a few years the father, Eugene, died, Mary redoubled her labours and received from the Lord the gift of healing those possessed by unclean spirits. Once the monk Marinus, with other brothers, was sent to the monastery's gardens and had to spend the night at an inn. The innkeeper's daughter, who had sinned with one of the guests, accused the monk, naming him the cause of her fall.

Her father complained to the abbot, who drove out the sinful brother. The venerable said not a word in her defence and began to live by the monastery wall. When the girl bore a boy, the innkeeper brought him to Marinus, silently left his grandson and went away. The saint took the infant and raised him. After three years the brothers begged the abbot to receive the monk Marinus again. The abbot, yielding with great reluctance, gave Brother Marinus the hardest obediences, which the venerable fulfilled with the greatest zeal, going on raising her supposed son.

After another three years the saint peacefully departed to the Lord in her cell. The brothers who came saw the deceased monk and the boy weeping over him. When they began to prepare her for burial, her secret was revealed. The abbot asked forgiveness of the departed with tears, and after him the innkeeper. The body of the venerable Mary was buried with honour in the monastery.

The innkeeper's daughter came to the saint's tomb, confessed her sin and was healed at once of the illness of demonic possession. The boy raised by the venerable later received the monastic order. The saint's relics were moved to Constantinople, and from there in 1113 carried to Venice.

Eugene and Mary are commemorated on 25 February (new style).