Eugene

Venerable Confessor Eugene was an ascetic and confessor in the time of the emperor Julian the Apostate (361-363), together with Saint Macarius, and he departed to the Lord in the desert of Mauritania.

Eugene and Macarius were seized in the time of Julian and declared with spiritual courage before the pagan emperor that Jesus Christ is the true God. Julian ordered them tortured; they were hung up and set on a grate red hot with fire, but the grace of God kept them unharmed. They were exiled to Mauritania. There they found a place where they settled to struggle in prayer and fasting, and the inhabitants warned them that a dragon lived nearby. Eugene and Macarius were not afraid; they prayed warmly and a bolt of lightning from heaven burned the dragon.

Then they entered its cave and prayed without food or drink. On the thirtieth day a voice from heaven sent them to a rock nearby, from which a strong light came; the rock split and water flowed in abundance. After they were refreshed they spent eight more days in prayer and fell asleep in peace, entrusting their souls to the Lord. Eugene is commemorated on 19 February, according to the new calendar, together with Macarius.