5th century
Saint Euphrosyne of Alexandria
Ascetic from Alexandria who, according to her Life, lived in a men's monastery under the name Smaragdus.
Biography
According to her Life, Euphrosyne was the only daughter of a wealthy Alexandrian, Paphnutius. To avoid an arranged marriage and devote herself to monastic life, she dressed as a man and was received into a men's monastery under the name Smaragdus.
She lived there as an ascetic for many years. Her father recognised her only shortly before her death and then became a monk himself.