Eulampius of Nicomedia

Holy Martyr Eulampius of Nicomedia lived at the beginning of the fourth century in the city of Nicomedia, with his sister, the Holy Martyr Eulampia.

Reading the edict of the Emperor Maximian (284-305) condemning every Christian to death, Eulampius was indignant that the emperor, instead of fighting the enemies of the fatherland, was arming himself against his own subjects. The young man was led to trial and asked to renounce the Christian faith. Because he refused, he was first tortured with iron instruments, then laid on a red-⁠hot iron bed.

Suddenly the martyr expressed a wish to visit the pagan temple. The judges rejoiced, thinking they had broken the young Christian's spirit. In the shrine of Mars the saint cried: In the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ I command you, mute and soulless idol, to fall to the ground and turn to dust. The idol crashed to the ground. The people cried: One is the God of the Christians, great and mighty.

The saint was taken again to torture. Then his sister Eulampia appeared before the judges and said that she too was a Christian. Eulampius encouraged her: Do not fear, my sister, those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul (Matthew 10:28). After tortures, the martyrs were thrown into a heated furnace, but the Lord preserved them from the fire too. In the end the brother was beheaded, and the sister died in the torments.

The Synaxarion commemorates Eulampius and Eulampia on 23 October (new style).