4th century
Saint Cleopatra
Christian woman of Palestine who, according to tradition, cared for the relics of the martyr Varus.
Biography
Cleopatra cared for the martyr Varus while he was being tortured and, after his death, took his relics, buried them in Palestine and built a magnificent church in his memory.
According to tradition, when her only son, an official at the king's court, later died, Cleopatra begged Saint Varus either to raise him or to take her with him. In her sleep she saw her son together with the saint, both in shining garments, comforting her, and understood that her son was in Paradise.
She then gave her wealth to the poor, stayed near the church doing good works, and fell asleep in peace seven years later.