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143 ST. PERPETUA 148 peniteoce, she spent the rest of her life. When Bomana awoke and found her new disciple gone, she feared she had returned to the stage, and flew in great distress to Nonnus ; hut he hade her he comforted, for Pelagia was safe. Three years afterwards a deacon going to Jerusalem was commissioned hy St. Nonnus to inquire for a holy recluse on Mount Olivet. He did so, and through the small window of her cell spoke to Pelagia. He had heen present at her interview with the hishop at Antioch and at her haptism ; hut he did not recognize her now. Moreover, the three years of her penitential life had so changed the once beautiful actress that he did not even guess that he was talking to a woman. A few days after this visit, Pelagia died ; and then it became known that the recluse of Mount Olivet was the same person as the popular dancer, who had disappeared from Antioch. Mar- vellous stories of her sanctity were soon in circulation; miracles attended her relics and honoured her tomb. Centuries afterwards, pilgrims from Europe, visiting the church of the Ascen- sion, on the mount of Olives, were led down many steps, into a crypt where in honour of a holy penitent, three lamps were kept continually burning, and dimly showed her tomb, separated only by a very narrow space from the rock which formed the wall of the church. Whoever ventured into that small pas- sage found himself unable to leave it until he had confessed every sin that stained his soul. Invisible bonds held him fEister than any fetters forged by mortal man ; but as soon as he had made a full confession he was free to depart. Tradition said this miraculous power was bequeathed to the niche by a great sinner who had done a long penance on that very spot, for it was the cell of the Actress Pelagia. There are some contradictions con- cerning the Saints Nonnus and their bishoprics, consequently doubts have arisen as to the date of Pelagia's conver- sion, which is sometimes placed in the 4th, sometimes as late as the 7th century, but everything points to its having occurred about the middle of the 5th century. B.M. Her life by James the Deacon in the AA,SS, Mart, of Salisbury. Menology of Basil. St Pellegjina, Pebegrina. Pellmerg. (See Triads.) St Penelope, Irene (l). St Perche, Walburga. St Perdicia, Prodocia. SS. Peregrina, (l, 2, 3), June 6, March 1, May 10, MM. in different places. AA.SS. St. Peregrina (4), Oct. 6, V. M probably before 312. Her body was taken from the cemetery of St. Prisgilla at Bome and translated, in 1659, to the church of St. Joseph of the Aug^us- tinians, at Laibach in Erain (Labacum in Camiola), where her festival is annually kept, Oct. 5. With the body was found a cup in which her blood had been collected, and there was evidence that she had been killed by stoning ; but whether her name was Peregrina or whether she was a pilgrim of unknown name could not be ascertained. AA.SS. St. Permia, March 6, M. in Italy. AA.SS. St Pemelle or Peronelle, Petro- NILLA. St. Pernia, Pecinna. St Peronelle, Petronilla. St Peronne, Nov. 15, 18, V. at Mortagne in le Perche, 730. Baring Gould. Guerin. St Perpetua (l), Nov. 4, M. Ist cen- tury. She is said by the legends to be the wife of St. Peter the apostie, and mother of St. Petronilla. She was put to death a short time before her husband, who when he saw her led away to martyrdom, rejoiced and called out to her, " O Perpetua, remember the Lord !" This incident is quoted by Eusebius, one account says from St Clement of Bome, another from St. Clement of Alexandria. Sanciorale Catholicum. Yillegas. Fer- rarius. Baring Gould. Joseph van den Gheyn, in the Acta Sanctorum^ says that by other accounts, St. Peter's wife's name was Concordia and that she was the daughter of Aristobulus, otherwise Zebedee, and of St. Salome. Zebedee, according to this