Frenemies - Eudokia Of Heliopolis

D. 107

Fantastic tales are told of a Samaritan woman, Eudokia, who lived in Phoenicia at the turn of the second century. Historians don’t know much about Christianity in this immediately postbiblical time, and so they’re not sure how much of the Eudokia story is fact and how much is legend. Still, this woman is revered in the Orthodox tradition, and the accounts—even if they’re merely legend—tell us something of the character of Christianity in that pivotal period.

It is said that Eudokia lived a sinful life until she awoke one midnight to hear singing from the home of a Christian neighbor. Asking about it the next day, she met a traveling monk, who led her to Christ. She renounced her loose lifestyle, gave away her wealth, and joined a monastery herself. (This is one of the historical problems with the story, since it’s generally accepted that the monastic movement began in the late third century. Still, there might have been ascetic Christian communities in her time.)

Then an old boyfriend showed up, trying to seduce her. Not only did she reject his advances, but she also uttered a prayer that struck him dead. At the urging of the other Christian women there, Eudokia prayed for his resurrection, and he revived . . . and soon converted.

Later, persecution broke out against the Christians. Eudokia was arrested and tortured—but then the torturer got word that his wife had died. He begged Eudokia to pray for his wife’s resurrection. It happened, and the family converted.

Several other Eudokia stories involve resurrections. She even urged an assistant to raise someone. While historians question the legitimacy of these accounts, there’s still something striking about them. Eudokia was showing love to her enemies by giving them new life. For the next two hundred years, Christians would be locked in a struggle for survival, but they did not take up arms to fight the authorities. Instead they relied on the power and love of God.

Nowadays many Christians feel embattled. They’re fighting for their rights, for freedoms, against cultural decay, against sins of various sorts. But we can all learn a lesson from Eudokia, who loved her enemies—sharing with them a new life in Christ.

Love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you! In that way, you will be acting as true children of your Father in heaven.

Matthew 5:44-45