Eros of Parembole

Holy Martyr Eros of Parembole was one of seven brothers, Orentius, Pharnacius, Eros, Firmus, Firminus, Cyriacus and Longinus, Roman soldiers, who suffered in the time of the Emperor Maximian (284-305). Eros died first, on 22 June, in Parembole.

In the time of Maximian the Scythians attacked the Greeks. For a duel with the Scythian chief Marof, known for extraordinary bodily strength, Orentius, a brave soldier, was ordered to come forward. Orentius was a Christian, as were his six brothers, who also served in the imperial army. Calling on the Lord for help, Orentius defeated Marof and so stopped the Scythian invasion. The emperor wished to sacrifice to the pagan gods for this victory and invited the victor too, but the saint refused, confessed himself a Christian and said that he had conquered the enemy by the power of the true God, the Lord Jesus Christ.

Neither the promise of honour and riches nor threats could persuade him to renounce Christ. The emperor, cruel and ungrateful, ordered the saint and his six brothers, Pharnacius, Eros, Firmus, Firminus, Cyriacus and Longinus, exiled to the Caucasus. On the road all seven died. First to die was Eros, on 22 June, in Parembole. Then Orentius died a martyr, thrown into the sea with a stone tied to his neck; the Archangel Raphael brought him out of the water to shore at Rhizus, on the southern coast of the Black Sea, where the saint died.

Pharnacius died on 3 July at Cordyle; Firmus and Firminus on 7 July at Aspar, on the eastern coast of the Black Sea; Cyriacus at Zigania, on 14 July; and Longinus died on the ship, on 28 July. A storm cast the ship onto the shore at Pitinda (Pitsunda), where the body of the holy martyr was buried.

The Synaxarion commemorates all seven on 7 July (new style).