Eleutherius of Illyria

Holy Hieromartyr Eleutherius of Illyria was a bishop of Illyria who received death for Christ at Rome, in the time of the Emperor Hadrian, around the year 138. He is commemorated on 15 December by the old calendar, together with his mother, the holy Martyr Anthia (Evanthia), and the eparch Caribus.

He was the son of an illustrious Roman citizen and was raised in Christian piety by his mother. His virtue was so great that at twenty he was raised to be bishop of Illyria. In the reign of Hadrian he was tortured for his bold preaching about Christ and was then beheaded at Rome, together with his mother. During one of the torments, as the synaxarion relates, an angel of the Lord loosed him and carried him up a mountain near the city, to a desert place where wild beasts dwelt. The eparch Caribus, who had tortured him, also came to believe in Christ and was put to death.