Bassus, Eusebius, Eutychius and Basilides

The Holy Martyrs Bassus, Eusebius, Eutychius and Basilides suffered at the beginning of the fourth century, in the time of the persecution of the emperor Diocletian, at Nicomedia, and are numbered among the martyrs of Nicomedia. The Orthodox Church commemorates them on 20 January, by the old calendar (2 February on the new style).

The martyrs were born in the Roman Empire. They were rich officials of distinguished family of the emperor, members of the senate, courtiers of Diocletian. Witnessing the sufferings of the holy hieromartyr Theopemptus, bishop of Nicomedia, they believed in Christ, were baptized, renounced the imperial rewards and declared themselves Christians. For this they were subjected to torments and put to death. Five of their slaves suffered together with them.

According to the sources, Bassus was buried to the chest in the earth and died of his wounds. Eusebius was hung head downward and cut into pieces. Eutychius was stretched between posts and quartered. And the belly of Basilides was cut open with a knife.