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139 ST. PELAGIA 130 where, in 1090, a cburoli was built in her bononr, and where her feast is ob- s^ved, June 24 and 26. From old MSS. AA,SS, Gu6rin. St. Peculcaris or Peculiarus, May 7, M. in Africa. AA.SS. St. Pee, Peoa. St. Peg^a, Jan. 8 (Pkao, Pkk, Pegax", Peqb, Pegia, or Pet), 7th and 8th cen- tury, V. She was of the ancient Saxon family of the Iclings, daughter of Pen- wald and Tetta, and sister of the famous hermit St Guthlac (April 11), who lived on an island called Croyland, in a huge fen. Pega lived on another island, some miles distant in the same fen. In 715, when he was at the point of death Guth- lac said to his servant Beccel, *< After my death, go to my sister and tell her I denied myself her society here on earth that we two might see each other in heaven before the face of God. Bid her place my body in the coffin and wind it in the sheet that Egburg sent me. I would not whilst I lived be clothed with a linen garment, but now, for the love of the maid of Christ, I will put her gift to the use for which I have kept it." This Egburg was an abbess and the daughter of Gnthlac*s friend. King Aldulph. When Gnthlac*s soul departed, Beocel heard angelic songs, smelt the flowers of Paradise and saw heavenly lights in the hut. He took a boat and went to St. Pega and told her all that he had seen and heard of her holy brother. She was filled with a great sorrow and fell to the ground. Presently she arose and went with Beccel to Croyland and prayed for the dead saint for three days, and then buried him in the sheet and the coffin that Egburg, the abbess and prin- cess, had sent him. Pega performed several wonderful cures, and so many miracles occurred at the spot, that in a year she called together a number of priests and monks and holy persons, and when they had opened the grave they found the saint's body frosh and un- injured and the linen perfectly white and clean. They then translated it into the place now called Peakirk in North- amptonshire, and here very soon Pega left her brother's psalter and scourge which St. Bartholomew had given him, and some other relics, and returned to her own cell, where she spent three months in lamentation. Then she tra-' veiled, su£fering greatly from cold and hunger, to the threshold of the Apostles Peter and Paul. As she entered the city of Home, all the bolls suddenly began to ring and continued to do so for an hour, to proclaim her sanctity to all the inhabitants; and there devoting herself entirely to the service of God, she spent the rest of her life in great holiness. Ordericus Vitalis. Ingulph, History of the Ahhey of Croyland. A life of St. Guthlac almost contemporary, translated and edited by Goodwin, 1848. Butler. St. Peillan. (See Gwbnapwy). St Peithien. (See Gwenafwy). St Pelagia (l), Dec. 21, V. M. 1st century. Daughter of the king of Ad- rianople, where St. Thomas the apostle stopped on his way to India, the day that Pelagia was being married to Denis. The apostle and his companion, the abbana (lieutenant) of (Jondafore, king of the Indians, were invited to the wed- ding. The master of the feast seeing that St. Thomas did not eat, rebuked him and struck him on^the face. St. Thomas said in Hebrew, " I will not rise from this feast until the hand that struck me is brought to me by a black dog." Theonlyperson who understood his words was a Jewess who was playing the flute among the musicians. The butler went out to draw water and a lion killed him and left him. He was eaten by dogs, and one of them, a black one, brought his right hand and laid it at the apostle's feet. The Jewess threw away her flute, and fell at the feet of the apostle, loudly exclaiming that he was a prophet and explaining to all the company what had happened. The king then requested him to bless the newly married couple. This he did, and instructed them so well in the Christian religion that they cared no more for the pleasures and honours of this world. Denis became bishop of Adrianople. Pelagia took the veil, and some time after her husband's death she was beheaded because she would not worship the heathen gods. Ordericus Vitalis.