Saint Emiliana and Saint Tarsilla were Roman saints, both of whom lived during the 6th century. They were related to Saint Gregory the Great and are remembered for their piety and devotion. Their feast day is celebrated on January 23.
Saint Emiliana and Saint Tarsilla were two Christian women from Rome, known for their holiness and devotion to the Christian faith during the 6th century. They were members of a noble Roman family, related to Saint Gregory the Great, one of the most significant popes in the history of the Catholic Church. The two women lived at a time when the Christian faith was deeply entrenched in Rome but still faced challenges from various social, political, and religious forces.
Emiliana and Tarsilla are best known for their devout lives of prayer and asceticism. Both women were dedicated to living in accordance with Christian virtues and were known for their compassion, humility, and commitment to helping the poor and needy. They were also noted for their commitment to celibacy and the religious life, which was seen as an example of their total devotion to God.
Emiliana, often regarded as the older of the two, was known for her extraordinary spirituality and leadership within her community. She likely lived in a religious or semi-religious community, focusing on prayer, fasting, and works of charity. Tarsilla, her younger sister, was equally committed to the Christian faith and is often described as following in the footsteps of her elder sibling. Together, they were revered for their devout lives and for their encouragement of others to live with similar piety and commitment.
Both women are remembered particularly for their close relationship with their nephew, Saint Gregory the Great. Gregory would later become pope and would often speak of the holiness and goodness of his relatives. According to some sources, both Emiliana and Tarsilla played key roles in encouraging Gregory to pursue his religious calling and would have been a source of spiritual support for him during his early years.
Saint Emiliana and Saint Tarsilla were both buried in the Church of Saint Peter in Chains in Rome, a place known for its association with several early Christian saints. Over time, they became recognized as martyrs due to their strong Christian witness and the eventual recognition of their holy lives by the Church. While there is little historical detail available about the exact circumstances of their deaths, they are remembered and venerated as saints due to their lives of deep faith and service.
Their feast day is celebrated on January 23, which is the day they both passed away. Their memory continues to inspire those who seek to live a life of prayer, humility, and devotion to God, as well as a life dedicated to serving others.