Saint Pelagia was once the head of a dance troupe in Palestinian Antioch, living a life of luxury and sin. Known for her beauty and charm, she earned a living through dancing and, at times, prostitution. One day, while passing by a church in her elegant and provocative attire, she caught the attention of Bishop Nonnus of Edessa, who was preaching at that moment.

While others averted their eyes, the Bishop saw beyond her outward appearance, sensing both her beauty and the potential for spiritual greatness within her. That evening, as he prayed in his cell, he reflected that just as Pelagia carefully adorned her body, he and his fellow priests should devote themselves even more to nurturing their souls.

The following day, Pelagia attended one of St. Nonnus’ sermons, where he spoke about the Last Judgment and the consequences of sin. Deeply moved, tears of repentance streaming down her face, she asked the Bishop to baptize her. Recognizing her sincerity and genuine remorse, he agreed.

That night, as she prayed, the devil appeared, tempting her to return to her former life. But Pelagia resisted, making the Sign of the Cross, and the devil vanished. She then gave all her wealth and possessions to St. Nonnus to distribute among the poor. The Bishop instructed that the gifts be wisely shared, saying, “Let these riches gained by sin now become a wealth of righteousness.”

Pelagia then left Antioch, disguised in men’s clothing, and traveled to the Mount of Olives in Jerusalem. There, she lived as a hermit under the name Pelagius, embracing a life of strict asceticism. In her secluded cell, she performed countless penances and grew in spiritual gifts. She lived quietly and devoutly until her death, when she was buried in her cell. People knew her as “the beardless monk,” only discovering her true identity after she had passed away.

Though inspired by real events, the story of Pelagia is largely a pious tale, meant to inspire devotion and repentance, and later influenced many similar stories under different names.