3rd century
Feast: December 25
A young Roman woman who disguised herself as a man to become a monk and was martyred.
Eugenia of Rome (died 258) was daughter of a Roman prefect who converted to Christianity and disguised herself as a man to enter a monastery. She became abbot while maintaining her disguise for years. When falsely accused of seducing a woman, she revealed her true identity to prove her innocence. She was eventually martyred during the persecution of Valerian. Her story represents the lengths some would go to serve God in religious life. Her courage in living authentically led to her death.