Eutropia of Syria

Holy Martyr Eutropia of Syria suffered together with the Holy Martyrs Leonida and Livia, in the great persecution of Diocletian. Leonida was the sister of Livia, and Eutropia was a young girl, perhaps the daughter or niece of Leonida.

Their lives have not been preserved, but they are recalled in the life of the Venerable Martyr Febronia, their contemporary. The abbess of the Vrienna convent tells Febronia there to remember those who suffered before her for Christ and received the crown from Him, among them not only men but women and children. She recalls Livia, put to the sword, and Leonida, thrown into the fire, who entered together into the chamber of the heavenly Bridegroom. She recalls also the maiden Eutropia, nineteen years old, tortured together with her mother. The judge, loosing her from her bonds, wished to frighten her with arrows, thinking she would run. But she heard the voice of her mother telling her to stand, and she stood immovable as a pillar until she was wounded all over by arrows, then fell to the ground and gave up her spirit to the Lord. This maiden was simple and unlearned, the abbess says, while Febronia, who had studied the divine books, ought to stand all the more bravely.

From this testimony we learn that Leonida was burned alive for the confession of faith in Christ. The life of Febronia does not give the exact date of the martyrdom, so the tradition of the Church commemorates them on the day of Saint Febronia, 8 July (new style). Their names are not included in the present Menologion of the Russian Church.