Eugene: Name Day and Patron Saint

Sts Eustratius, Auxentius, Eugene, Mardarius and Orestes, often called the Five Companions, suffered for Christ at Sebaste in Armenia in the persecution of the emperor Diocletian, at the beginning of the fourth century. Auxentius was a presbyter, one of the first Christians to be imprisoned and tortured there, and he was later beheaded. Eustratius was a high-born military commander and governor of his city who had kept his faith in secret; seeing the courage of the Christians, he confessed Christ openly. He was beaten, made to walk in iron sandals studded with nails, and at last burned alive. Mardarius was a simple man in the crowd who, seeing Eustratius led past, declared that he too was a Christian; he was hung upside down and tortured until he died. Eugene’s tongue was cut out and his hands and feet cut off before he was beheaded. Orestes, a young soldier, was sentenced to lie on a red-hot iron bed; afraid at first, he was strengthened by Eustratius, made the Sign of the Cross and lay down, and so gave his life. The Church keeps their memory on 13 December (26 December on the Old Calendar). Their prayers live on in the Church’s worship: the prayer of Eustratius, “I magnify Thee exceedingly, O Lord”, is read every week in the Saturday services, and the prayer of Mardarius, “O Master, Lord God, Father Almighty”, at the end of the Third Hour. The faithful ask their help to stand firm, and to strengthen one another, in times of fear and trial.

What the faithful pray for

• courage in fear and persecution
• those who keep their faith hidden, to confess it openly
• strength to encourage one another in trials