St. Pelagia

"Who?"
That's what the bishop who confirmed me said as I approached him and he asked me what name I was taking.

There are actually many accounts of a St. Pelagia it turns out, and many possible feast days. Here's the story of my St. Pelagia (apparently also known as Margaret):

Pelagia was a beautiful and wealthy pagan actress who gave up all of her wealth when she was walking by a church and heard a homily about the Judgement Day given by St. Nonnus. She instantly repented and begged St. Nonnus for baptism. He said the only way for her to be baptized was for her to renounce her profession (during the 5th centtury in Antioch actors were not allowed to be a part of the Church because...well let's just say it was a very dirty profession) and start catechism classes with Blessed Romana, who would later become her godmother. Very soon afterwords she desired to do penance for the horrible life she had led and received a brown habit from St. Nonnus. Then she visited the Holy Sepulcher and all the places where Jesus visited during the passion. She built herself a house on Mount Olive and became a hermittess. People called her "the beardless monk" and it was only after her death that they realized she was a woman. A little tomb was built for her and centuries later people started making pilgrimages there. Stories say that whoever visited her tomb was held there by invisible bonds stronger than any human could ever make until they confessed every sin they'd committed.

Her feast day is October 8.

St. Pelagia, pray for us!