Eudocia the Martyr

Saint Eudocia, martyr, is venerated as a martyr of the third century. The Orthodox Church commemorates her on 4 August. Some Orthodox hagiographers today think she may be a fictional figure.

According to the hagiographic accounts, she was deported by force, together with thousands of other Christians, by the Persian king Shapur I. She strengthened her fellow believers in the face of persecution and brought Persian women to the faith. She was then reportedly tormented in various ways, thrown into prison several times, and finally put to death by beheading.

By tradition she should not be confused with the martyr Eudocia of Heliopolis, but the two may be one and the same. For these reasons her life is uncertain as history.