Eutychius of Nursia

Holy Venerable Eutychius of Nursia, abbot, was a monk who struggled in Italy in the sixth century, in the region of Nursia, together with the Venerable Florentius. By his teaching he turned many people to God.

When the abbot of a nearby monastery died, the brothers earnestly asked him to be their superior. Eutychius agreed, but he continued to care for the place where he had formerly struggled, where his companion Florentius remained. Florentius worked miracles even in his lifetime. Among other things he tamed a bear that served him, grazing the sheep, bringing water and carrying out other commands of the elder. Four monks, envying Florentius's fame, killed the bear. The saint foretold God's punishment for the killers, and so it happened, for the four were struck with illness. Seeing the punishment, Florentius grieved deeply and repented of what had happened, calling himself the killer of those monks.

Eutychius did not work miracles in his lifetime, but after his death healings were granted from his remaining garments. In time of drought they went through the fields with his garment and God sent rain, as happened in 1492. The Venerable Eutychius died on 23 May 540, and the Venerable Florentius on 1 June 547. Eutychius is commemorated on 5 September (new style). Their story was also written down by Saint Demetrius of Rostov.