Melania the Elder

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Melania the Elder, one of the wealthiest citizens of the empire, was born in Spain, married at fourteen, and lived with her husband in the suburbs of Rome. She lost her husband and two out of three sons to a disease when she was twenty-two. She moved with her remaining son to Rome.

She became a Christian in Rome and set off to Alexandria to meet up with other Christian ascetics.

After some travels, Melania arrived in Jerusalem where she founded a monastery with Rufinus.

She left for Rome to see her son and influenced his daughter, also named Melania. His daughter is known as Melania the Younger after taking up the religious calling like her grandmother.

She returned to Palestine in 404 AD and died in 410 AD in Jerusalem.

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