Evilasius of Cyzicus

Holy Martyr Evilasius of Cyzicus suffered in the city of Cyzicus, in Mysia, between the years 305 and 311, in the time of the persecution of the Emperor Diocletian, together with the Holy Martyr Fausta and with Maximus.

Fausta, a virgin raised by Christian parents and orphaned early, led a strict and virtuous life. Word of her, as a Christian, reached the governor, who sent to her the eighty-⁠year-⁠old pagan priest Evilasius to force her to renounce Christ. The saint bravely confessed her faith and was subjected to many heavy tortures, but, strengthened by the Lord, did not feel the pain. Shutting her in a wooden chest, the tormentors wore themselves out trying to saw it through or burn it in fire: neither the martyr nor the chest was harmed, guarded by divine power. The priest Evilasius, astonished at the clear manifestation of God's power, believed in the Saviour and confessed himself a Christian.

To investigate the case, the emperor sent the eparch Maximus, who began to torture the old man who had turned to Christ. Evilasius asked Saint Fausta to pray for him and then bravely endured the torments. Fausta was given to be torn by beasts, but the beasts did not touch her. Then nails were driven into her forehead, eyes, breast and other parts of her body and, at last, she was thrown into a boiling cauldron together with Saint Evilasius; the martyrs prayed for their tormentors.

Seeing the faith and patience of the saints and granted a heavenly vision, the eparch Maximus also turned to Christ, asked His forgiveness for his sins and, throwing himself into the cauldron in which Fausta and Evilasius were tormented, was granted with them a martyr's death.

The Synaxarion commemorates Fausta, Evilasius and Maximus on 19 February (new style).