Eleazar of Jerusalem

Holy Martyr Eleazar of Jerusalem was a priest and teacher of the Law in Judea in the year 166 before Christ. Having reached old age, but handsome in appearance, he was renowned for his wisdom and piety.

He was brought to the persecutor, who tried to force him to eat swine's flesh, forbidden by God in the Old Law. Eleazar chose to die a glorious death for the Law of God rather than keep a shameful life, displeasing to God through breaking it. In the midst of the torments, when the priest of God was near death from his wounds, he said, groaning, that the Lord, who has perfect knowledge, knows that, though he could escape death, he accepts grievous sufferings and bears them willingly for fear of God.

The disciples of Eleazar, the seven Maccabee brothers Abim, Antoninus, Gurias, Eleazar, Eusebonas, Alim and Marcellus, were seized together with their mother Solomonia and brought before the lawless king, who wanted to force them to eat the forbidden food. They preferred to die rather than transgress the laws and received terrible torments one after another. The youngest was urged by his mother to look at heaven and earth, to know that God made all things out of nothing, not to fear the killer and to be worthy of his brothers, so that she might receive him again, by the mercy of God. After her sons the mother also died, thanking God joyfully that she and her children had laid down their souls for the Law of the Lord Almighty.

The Synaxarion commemorates the seven Maccabee brothers, their mother Solomonia and their teacher Eleazar on 14 August (new style).