Eunoicus of Sebaste

Holy Martyr Eunoicus of Sebaste was one of the Forty Martyrs of Sebaste in Armenia, Christian soldiers from Cappadocia who suffered around the year 320.

In 313 the Emperor Constantine the Great issued the edict of freedom of faith. His co-⁠emperor Licinius also signed the law, but persecution continued in his lands. Around 320 a Roman army was stationed in the city of Sebaste in Armenia, and in it served forty Christian soldiers. The commander Agricolaus wished to force them to offer sacrifice to idols, but they refused. They were arrested, bound and led to a lake near the city. It was winter and evening was coming on. The soldiers were stood naked in the icy water. On the shore a warm bath had been set as a temptation: whoever wished to save his life had only to tell the guard that he had denied Christ.

All night the soldiers endured the terrible cold, encouraging one another and singing hymns to God. In the morning one of them could bear it no longer, came out of the water and ran towards the bath, but fell dead as soon as the warm air touched him. Then the guard Aglaius saw a heavenly light shining over the martyrs who remained in the lake. Astonished, he declared himself a Christian, took off his clothes and joined the thirty-⁠nine. The persecutors who came later found the soldiers not only alive but even warmed. They then broke their shins with hammers and cast them into the fire, and threw the burned bones into the river.

After three days the martyrs appeared to Peter, bishop of Sebaste, and told him what they had endured. The bishop gathered their bones and buried them with honour. The names of the martyrs were preserved, and Eunoicus is among them. The commemoration of the Forty is among the most honoured days: the severity of the Great Fast is relaxed and the Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts is served. Eunoicus is commemorated on 22 March (new style), that is 9 March by the old calendar.