On September 29, the Orthodox Church honors the memory of the Holy Great Martyr Euphemia the All-Laudable, who set an example of unshakeable faith and love for Christ.
Saint Euphemia was born in Chalcedon, Bithynia, into the pious family of Senator Philophron and his wife Theodorisiana. At the beginning of the fourth century, during the persecution of Christians under Emperor Diocletian, the ruler of the city, Priscus, ordered all residents to gather for a feast in honor of the pagan god Ares. Christians refused to participate in idolatry and gathered to pray together. Young Euphemia was among the arrested believers.
After the tortures of the other confessors, they were sent to the emperor for trial, and Euphemia Priscus left in Chalcedon, hoping to persuade her to renounce Christ. However, neither promises of gifts, nor threats, nor cruel torments shook the saint. According to her life, the Lord repeatedly showed His help to her: an Angel stopped the wheel on which Euphemia was being tortured and healed her wounds. The soldiers Victor and Sosthenes, who were ordered to throw the martyr into a red-hot furnace, saw Angels in the flames and believed in Christ themselves.
Finally, the saint was led into the arena and given to the beasts. But the animals did not attack her, but only fell at her feet. Only the bear inflicted a small wound on Euphemia, after which the martyr gave her soul to the Lord. Her parents buried her body with reverence in the vicinity of Chalcedon. Later, a temple was erected over the burial site.
An important event in the history of the Church is also connected with the name of the Great Martyr. In 451, the IV Ecumenical Council was held in the church where her relics rested. His fathers established the Orthodox teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ, the true God and the true Man, in whose single Personality the Divine and human natures are united seamlessly, invariably, inseparably and inseparably.
Church tradition has preserved the story of a miracle that took place at the relics of the saint during the council disputes. Two scrolls containing Orthodox and heretical confessions were placed in her tomb, which was then sealed. After three days of fasting and prayer, the tomb was opened: a scroll with the Orthodox confession was in the right hand of the Great martyr, and the other lay at her feet. The saint, as if alive, stretched out her hand and handed the Orthodox scroll to the patriarch. Thus Euphemia, who testified her fidelity to Christ through her martyrdom, became a witness to the truth even after her death.
In the following centuries, the relics of the Great Martyr were transferred to Constantinople. Despite the wars and iconoclastic persecutions, the shrine was preserved for prayerful veneration.
The memory of Saint Euphemia reminds Christians of their courage in professing faith, faithfulness to the truth, and reliance on God's help in the midst of trials.
Holy Great Martyr Euphemia, pray to God for us!