What if nuns had turned Penelope into a cool Greek saint without the misogynist Homeric heroes?
Vita of Saint Penelopi
In the city of Alalkomene there lived a woman called Penelopi who had converted to the true faith. Penelopi earned a living by weaving bridal veils. There was a very unholy custom for brides to pray in the temple of a demon called Athena to bless the marriage, but in fact, the demon would curse the young women to die early. Penelopi was very distressed by it and cried out to our true Lord and Saviour.
Then a messenger of our Lord appeared and told her to weave a symbol of the holy cross secretly into the veils. The brides with these veils were not able to enter the dwelling of the demon because when they tried, a glowing light would weave the symbol of the holy cross in front of the entrance, hindering them. And the brides became believers of the true faith.
Their families became very upset and accused the saint of evil magic. But the saint rebuked them and said: "If this spirit dwelling in the temple is weaker than the weavings of a poor woman like me, how can it help in marriage?" However, she said this because it is written that everything is possible for one who believes.
Then the townspeople forbid her to weave bridal veils. Again, Penelopi cried out to our true Lord and Saviour and said: "May the righteous god have regard to my chaste flame!". And the messenger told her to weave a robe with symbols of the holy cross. And as long as Penelope was weaving and praising our Lord, no one could enter the house of the evil spirit because of the woven cross. † By day she wove the web, and in the night by torchlight, she unwove it.
The townspeople became very upset and forbade Penelopi from weaving her robe. However, Penelopi received the spirit of our Lord and asked them to be allowed to finish her yarn. They agreed but placed guards in front of her door to prevent someone from giving her more yarn. But Penelopi became not distressed by this but praised our Lord and thanked him. And in the night, the messenger would help her son Telomaches to go out and bring his mother more yarn secretly. "Thank you for all you have brought me, my son", she said. "I'm grateful for it. I will now go and sacrifice a basked of wheat, and pray for the return of the true bridegroom."
This lasted forty days and nights and the townspeople marvelled at the miracle the saint was weaving in the name of our Lord and they all became believers of the true faith. The demon was expelled, and its dwelling was turned into a nunnery for the brides who were saved by the miracle of the veils.
