The Cult of Saints in Late Antiquity

The Life and Miracles of Domnika (BHG 562f)

Summary

[1-3] Domnika, living in the times of Theodosius the Great [r. 379-395], is born into a Christian family in Carthage (or Carthago Nova/Cartagena, southern Hispania). Desiring to live a holy life, she flees her parents’ house, and embarks on a ship to Alexandria.

[4-7] In Alexandria, she finds accommodation in a lodge with another four virgins who, although pagan, also live a virtuous life. Domnika converts them to Christianity through her prayers, teaching and example. They decide to leave Alexandria and sail to Constantinople.

[8] During their journey, a storm hits the ship, almost sinking it. Domnika, quells the storm by reciting a psalm and making the sign of the cross on the sea with some oil.

[9] In Constantinople, they are welcomed by Patriarch Nectarius [381-397] who has been informed of their arrival by an angelic vision. He grants them lodging in the galleries of the cathedral of Saint Sophia. He also catechises and baptises Domnika’s companions, who are named Dorothea, Euetheia, Nonna, and Timothea.

[10] In the capital, they progress spiritually, and Domnika’s sanctity and miracles become famous, attracting visits by the emperor Theodosius, his wife and the court. Wishing to avoid constant visits and to conduct a solitary life, Domnika requests to settle in a remote and uninhabited place, formerly site of executions and haunted by demons. Initially opposing the plan, the patriarch is convinced to grant the request and notifies the emperor who orders the construction of the monastery and of an oratory dedicated to the Prophet *Zechariah.

[11] Once the monastery is built, the patriarch plans to consecrate its church on 26 January, but Domnika convinces him to hold ‘the celebration of the dedication and the deposition of the holy relics’ (τὴν ἑορτὴν τῶν ἐγκαινίων καὶ τὰ καταθέσια τῶν τιμίων λειψάνων) on 24 January, because she expects something evil to befall the city on the 26th. The patriarch follows her advice and makes her a deaconess and abbess of the monastery. Two days later, on 26 January, Domnika's prophecy comes true (the nature of the trouble is not specified [a major earthquake is known to have struck Constantinople on 26 January 447]).

[12] Many people are healed from illness or demonic possession by Domnika.

[13] Thieves attempt to rob the monastery, but are stopped by a miraculously inflicted paralysis, while the abbess prays for them.

[14] Domnika heals a senatorial woman who suffers a severe malady under the influence of magic, revealing the servant who has performed the magic on her, and convincing the woman not to punish him.

[15] On the feast of the Theophany (Epiphany), as the abbess is praying for the blessing of the water, she has a vision of the Holy Spirit coming down in the form of an angel and touching the water with a staff.

[16] A few days later, while visiting the sacristy, Domnika heard a voice announcing the death of the emperor Theodosius [in 450]. This causes distress to the nuns, because the emperor was a generous sponsor of their convent.

[17] During the religious troubles of the time of Zeno [r. 474-491] and Basiliscus [r. 475-476], people urge Domnika to visit and admonish the empress [probably Zenonis, the wife of Basiliscus]. Predicting the woman’s malice, Domnika refuses to go herself and sends Dorothea to the palace, but the empress does not grant her audience. While leaving, Dorothea predicts that one day the empress herself will be knocking on the doors of the Great Church, but they will not be opened to her. Indeed, she dies some time later, having been unable to enter the cathedral.

[18] When Domnika is about to die, she nominates Dorothea as her successor abbess and offers up a prayer commending the monastery to the protection of God through the prayers of the Mother of God (Theotokos) and the Prophet Zechariah. After praying, Domnika entrustes the monastery to Dorothea, urging her follow everything she has taught her. When she dies, the whole building is shaken by a tremor and the nuns go out to the court, believing this to be the Second Coming. There they have a vision of Domnika surrounded by holy monks and nuns dressed in white, and the air is filled with fragrance and with the sound of psalmody. Dorothea and the nuns bury Domnika in a sarcophagus she had prepared. Her body still performs miraculous cures of diseases and demonic possession.

Posthumous miracles

[19] After some time, when a fire threatens the monastery, many people come to help extinguishing the fire, including the Urban Prefect Eirenaios who has a vision of Domnika and the prophet Zechariah driving the flames away.

[20] A long time later, a great crowd of ascetics and officials gathers to attend her feast. Among them there is a foreign woman who is possessed, but no-one knows. During the liturgy, the demon starts scourging the woman and confesses to being tormented by Domnika and the Prophet Zechariah. Several days later, she is freed from the demon.

[21] Concluding doxology.


Text: Kurbanov and Spyridonova 2020.
Summary: Efthymios Rizos, Lavinia Cerioni.

Eucharist associated with cult
Ceremony of dedication
Service for the saint

Saint’s feast

Cult building - oratory
Cult building - monastic
Burial site of a saint - sarcophagus/coffin

Composing and translating saint-related texts
Visiting/veneration of living saint

Miracle during lifetime
Miracle at martyrdom and death
Miracle after death
Power over elements (fire, earthquakes, floods, weather)
Healing diseases and disabilities
Apparition, vision, dream, revelation
Miraculous protection - of church and church property
Miraculous sound, smell, light
Exorcism
Revelation of hidden knowledge (past, present and future)

Bodily relic - entire body

Women
Ecclesiastics - bishops
Ecclesiastics - lesser clergy
Ecclesiastics - abbots
Aristocrats
Ecclesiastics - monks/nuns/hermits
Unbaptized Christians
Monarchs and their family
Slaves/ servants
Officials
Demons

Source

Discussion

Bibliography