🔸 September 20 - Saint Eustathius 🔸
Today, we commemorate the Great-martyr Saint Eustathius, his wife Theopisti, and their sons Agapios and Theopistos. Originally named Plakidas, St. Eustathius was a Roman military general who was martyred in 118 AD.
Before his conversion to Christianity, Plakidas was already known for his charitable works. One day, while hunting in a forest, he encountered a stag that stared at him intently. As he pursued it, he saw a glowing cross between its antlers.
From the cross, he heard a divine voice saying, "I am Jesus Christ, whom you do not yet know, but by your good deeds, you honor me."
The voice invited Plakidas and his family to be baptized, predicting that he would endure numerous trials, much like Job, but would ultimately overcome the devil. Upon baptism, Plakidas received the name Eustathius, which means "steadfast."
Soon after, Eustathius was struck by great misfortunes: all his servants died of plague, and his livestock perished. He fled to Jerusalem with his wife and children aboard a ship.
The ship's captain, captivated by his wife’s beauty, cruelly abandoned Eustathius and his children, keeping his wife for himself. In his grief, Eustathius carry on the journey with his sons.
As they attempted to cross a treacherous river, tragedy struck—one son was seized by a lion, and the other was carried off by a wolf.
Overwhelmed with sorrow at the loss of his family, Eustathius wept bitterly. However, he was unaware that shepherds had rescued his sons from the beasts, and that his wife remained untouched, as the ship's captain had succumbed to illness and died.
Eustathius eventually returned to Rome, where he regained his former military rank. Without knowing it, he was reunited with his two sons, who had been enlisted as soldiers under his command, and his wife, who had become a servant to the soldiers. Through God's providence, his family was restored.
Following a successful campaign against the barbarians, Emperor Hadrian instructed Eustathius and his soldiers to make offerings to the pagan gods. True to his steadfast nature, Eustathius refused, declaring that he would worship only Christ.
Enraged, Hadrian commanded that St. Eustathius and his family be martyred by being burned alive in a brazen bull, where they finally found peace in Christ.