Saint Melania the Younger

Melania was born in Rome around 383 to a very wealthy Christian family and was married at fourteen to her cousin Pinian. After both of their children died young, the couple decided to live as brother and sister and to give their immense wealth to the poor, freeing thousands of slaves and supporting churches and monasteries. They lived for some years near Saint Augustine in North Africa and then settled in Jerusalem, where Melania founded monasteries for women and men on the Mount of Olives. She died there on December 31, 439.

Her life was written by her chaplain Gerontius, who was with her at her death. She is called "the Younger" to distinguish her from her grandmother, Saint Melania the Elder.