The Life and Martyrdom of the Holy GreatMartyr Eustathius and His Family
Commemorated on September 20

18th Week after Pentecost. Tone eight.

Before receiving Holy Baptism, the GreatMartyr Eustathius was a celebrated Roman military commander named Placidus, serving under the emperors Titus and Trajan. Although a pagan by birth, Placidus possessed a deeply merciful soul; he spent his days performing abundant acts of charity and aiding the destitute. Because of his righteousness, the Lord did not allow him to remain in the darkness of idol worship.

The Miraculous Conversion
While hunting on horseback one day, Placidus pursued a majestic stag onto a high hill. As the animal halted, Placidus beheld a radiant Cross appearing between its antlers, upon which hung the Crucified Son of God. A divine voice asked: "Why pursuest thou Me, Placidus?"
Trembling, Placidus asked who spoke. The Lord revealed Himself as Jesus Christ, telling Placidus that his alms and good deeds had risen to heaven. He commanded Placidus to find a Christian priest to receive Baptism. Returning home, Placidus discovered that his wife had received a matching dream-vision that same night. Filled with joy, the entire family hastened to a Christian presbyter, received Holy Baptism, and communed of the Holy Mysteries.

Tested Like Gold in the Forge
Returning to the site of his conversion to offer prayers of thanksgiving, Saint Eustathius received another divine revelation. The Lord foretold that he, like the Righteous Job, would face immense sorrows to test his faith. Eustathius humbly accepted, praying only for the Lord's almighty help.
A series of devastating trials quickly befell the family:
• Poverty and Exile: A plague struck their estate, killing all their servants and cattle. Ruined but trusting in God, they fled their home in secret to live in humble poverty.
• Abduction of His Wife: Boarding a ship to Egypt, the wicked shipowner was captivated by the beauty of Eustathius’s wife. He forcefully set the saint ashore and kept the wife for himself.
• Loss of His Children: While carrying his two young sons across a turbulent river one by one, a lion dragged the first son into the wilderness, and a wolf snatched the second into the forest.
Brokenhearted but unyielding in faith, Saint Eustathius spent the next fifteen years in grueling manual labor in the village of Badiss. He remained entirely unaware that through Divine Providence, local shepherds and farmers had rescued both of his sons, and that the wicked shipowner had died of a sudden disease, leaving his wife unharmed and living in peaceful labor nearby.

The Miracle of Reunion
When Rome was threatened by war, Emperor Trajan remembered his brilliant commander Placidus and sent soldiers to find him. Recognised by his old friends by a distinct war scar on his knee, Eustathius was brought back to Rome and restored to his imperial rank.
While gathering an army, Eustathius unwittingly recruited his own two sons, who had grown into daring, skilled soldiers. During a military campaign, the two brothers happened to pitch their tent next to a village house and began discussing their childhood memories, realizing they were brothers. The woman living in the house overheard them and recognized them as her lost sons. She went to the military commander to request permission to travel with the army—and in the commander, she recognized her long-lost husband. Through the profound mercy of God, the entire family was miraculously reunited.

The Crown of Martyrdom
Following a glorious military victory, the new emperor, Adrian, ordered a massive public sacrifice to the pagan idols. Saint Eustathius boldly refused to enter the temple. When interrogated by the furious emperor, Eustathius declared: "I am a Christian and I know as the One God Christ Jesus... He hath given me everything: health, victory, He returned my family."
Stripped of his rank, Saint Eustathius, his wife, and his sons were thrown to wild beasts, but the animals refused to touch them.