Saint Cleopatra

Saint Cleopatra
Born 4th century
Mount Tabor, Palestine
Died 327
Venerated in Coptic Orthodox Church
Oriental Orthodox Churches
Feast 19th of October
Attributes Basilides is depicted as a soldier

Saint Cleopatra (died 327) was a Christian saint of the Coptic Orthodox Church and Orthodox Christianity who lived between the 3rd century and 4th century.

Cleopatra originally came from a village called Edra near Mount Tabor. Mount Tabor is located in Lower Galilee, at the eastern end of the Jezreel Valley, 17 kilometres (11 mi) west of the Sea of Galilee, Palestine.

Cleopatra was a contemporary to the holy martyr Saint Varus. She had witnessed the suffering and execution of Saint Varus. After Varus' execution Cleopatra had taken Varus' remains to her home in Daraa, Syria. When Cleopatra returned she had buried Varus' remains with reverence.

At this time Cleopatra was widowed and had a son, her only child, John. In 319 John had attained the officer rank of centurion. To her great sorrow, her son died suddenly. Cleopatra in grief turned to the relics of Saint Varus, begging the saint to return her son.

Cleopatra dreamt that Varus and John appeared to her as radiant in bright attire with crowns upon their heads. She took this to mean that the Lord had received John into the Heavenly Kingdom and was comforted.

After Cleopatra had her blessed dream, she moved to live by a church. This church that Cleopatra built was over the relics of Saint Varus and her son. The relics of Saint Varus and her son are reputed to have effected many miracles. Cleopatra spent her remaining years in the service of God. She gave her property to the poor and spent her time praying and fasting. Cleopatra died in 327.

Apart from Cleopatra, her son John is also recognised as a saint in Orthodox Christianity. The feast day of Saints Cleopatra and John is October 19.

References

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