Eustathius of Ancyra

Holy Martyr Eustathius of Ancyra was a soldier. He was seized for confessing the Christian faith and brought before the governor of the city of Ancyra. At the trial he confessed himself a Christian with firmness and courage and was given over to torture. They beat him without mercy, pierced his heels and, binding him with a rope, dragged him through the city to the river Sagaris (Sangarios). On the bank they laid him in a wooden chest and threw it into the water.

An angel of God carried the chest to the shore. The saint, inside the chest, sang the ninetieth Psalm. Seeing the miracle and feeling ashamed, the governor drew his sword and killed himself. The martyr, receiving Holy Communion from the hand of an angel, gave up his spirit to God, around 316. His honourable relics were buried in Ancyra. He is commemorated on 10 August (new style). The story of his martyrdom was also written down by Saint Demetrius of Rostov.