Eucleus of Perge

Holy Martyr Eucleus of Perge lived in the Pamphylian city of Perge in the time of the Emperor Diocletian (284-305) and suffered together with Leontius, Attius, Alexander, Cindeus, Minsitheus, Cyriacus, Mineon and Catun.

All were baptized in infancy. Mineon was a carpenter, the others were tillers of the soil. In the time of the fierce persecution of Christians, the saints with one mind desired to take up the struggle of martyrdom for Christ. They destroyed the shrine of the pagan goddess Artemis, and for this were given to cruel tortures and cast to beasts in the circus. But the beasts, tamed by the prayers of the martyrs, did not touch them.

The spectators were seized with terror and cried out loudly: Great is the God of the Christians. A terrible storm broke out, and both hail and fire fell on the earth at once. A voice was heard from heaven calling the martyrs into the Kingdom of heaven. At this voice the saints were filled with joy and, bowing their heads under the sword, received the crowns of martyrdom.

The Synaxarion commemorates them all on 14 August (new style).