Page:A Dictionary of Saintly Women Volume 2.djvu/182

170 170 ST. PULCHERIA were a goal for every man's ambition, and inflnenced by the religions fasbion of the time, wbicb extolled celibacy as tbe bigbest state, and pronounced cbas- tity a hundred times bigber tban all the otber yirtnes pnt togetber, sbe and ber sisters — Arcadia and Marina — publicly bound tbemselves by a solemn vow of virginity, and in a grand religious ser- vice, in presence of a vast concourse of people, tbey offered in the cburcb of St. Sopbia at Constantinople, a jewelled golden tablet on wbicb tbeir vow was inscribed. From tbis time tbey re- nounced all splendour and frivolity and passed tbeir time in studying the Holy Scriptures, in visiting the poor, and in prayer for the welfkre of souls. At fixed bours Pulcberia devoted berself to tbe business of the State and the educa- tion of ber brotber. Sbe took care tbat be sbould acquire the best manners and accomplisbments of a gentleman of bis day. Feeble tbougb be was, bis watcb- ful guardian bad the satisfaction of see- ing bim free from vice, and on the wbole, well disposed. He was incurably indolent, but would make a point of rising at dawn for the morning prayers witb bis sisters. Tbe Eastern empire was never more flourisbing, nor were virtue, art and science more protected and encouraged tban under the rule of Pulcberia. Among all the descendants of the great Tbeodo- sius, sbe alone appears to Have inberited any sbare of bis manly spirit and abilities. Sbe bas the credit of abolisb- ing the remains of beatbenism in several parts of ber brother's dominions. Tbe numerous cburcbes and hospitals sbe built were paid for without costing a sigh to the poor. Sbe did not omit to say the proper prayers of each hour and sing the psalms witb ber sisters, but she gave careful attention to public business and had all orders executed witb incred- ible expedition, although always in the Emperor's name. Sbe was easy of access to all classes of ber people ; any one who failed to obtain justice in the ordinary manner could bring bis case before ber and be sure of a patient bear- ing. It was in pursuance of tbis custom tbat she became acquainted witb Atho- na'is, the beautiful and learned daughter of a philosopher of Athens ; who oom« plained that ber brothers had taken the wbole of their father's inheritance and left ber no means of support. Pulcberia was so much impressed witb tbe beauty and charm of Athenais that sbe subsequently suggested her to Theo- dosius as a suitable bride. Athenais became an easy convert to Christianity, and was baptized by the name of Eudo- cia. The marriage took place with great splendour in 421 and led to many yeais of happy union, while the most cordial relations existed between the sisters-in- law. About 423, Pulcberia and Theodoeius welcomed to Constantinople tbeir aunt, tbe exiled St. Placidia witb her children. She was several years older tban Pul- cberia. Sbe bad reigned as queen among tbe Goths and as empress at Bavenna ; yet ber status as empress was not ad- mitted. She chafed at her subordination to Pulcberia, whose superior sbe sbould have been by age and relationship, but on the death of Honorius, emperor of tbe West, Theodosius and Pulcberia con- ferred on Placidia the title of Augusta and sent ber back to Ravenna to estab- lish ber son Valentinian III. on the throne of bis uncle. One of Pulcberia's pious works was to send to Comana in Pontus, to bring home the body of St. John Chrysostom, who bad been banished by Arcadius and Eudoxia, and bad died there in exile. Tbe dead saint was received witb the bigbest honour. Theodosius and Pul- cberia devoutly walked in the procession witb the Patriarch St. Proclus, and asked pardon of God for the sin tbeir father and mother bad committed in persecut- ing the holy man. He was buried among the emperors and bishops in the cburcb of the Apostles, in 438. In the same year was completed and published the world-famous Codex Theo- doaianus, a collection of all the laws since Constantino. Within a few years it was acknowledged as the law book of tbe Eastern and Western empires. It was the solid civil bond of the Byzantine empire, and gave to the barbarians ideas of justice and civilization. Theodosius