Commemorated on September 20
Eustathius was a great Roman general during the reign of Emperors Titus and Trajan. Though he was a pagan, Placidas (for that was his pagan name) was a just and merciful man, similar to Cornelius the Centurion, who was baptized by the Apostle Peter (Acts 10).
Out hunting one day, he pursued a stag. By God’s providence, a cross appeared between the antlers of the stag and the voice of the Lord came to Placidas, directing him to go to a Christian priest and become baptized. Placdias was baptized, along with his wife, and two sons. At baptism, he received the name Eustathius; his wife, Theopiste (“faithful to God”); and his sons, Agapitus and Theopistus. After his baptism, he returned to the place where he had experienced the revelation of the stag, and, kneeling, gave thanks to God that He had brought him to the truth.
Just then, the voice of the Lord again manifested itself to him, foretold that he would suffer for His name, and strengthened him. Then Eustathius secretly left Rome with his family, intending to hide among the simple people and serve God in humble and unknown surroundings.
Arriving in Egypt, he was immediately beset by trials. An evil barbarian abducted his wife, and both of his sons were seized by wild beasts and carried away. However, the barbarian soon lost his life, and the children were saved from the wild beasts by shepherds. Eustathius settled in the Egyptian village of Vadisis and lived there for fifteen years as a hired laborer. Then barbarians attacked the Roman Empire, and the Emperor Trajan grieved that he did not have the brave General Placidas, who had carried the victory whenever he fought.
The emperor sent two of his officers to seek the great commander throughout the empire. By God’s providence, these officers (who were companions of Eustathius), came to the village of Vadisis, found Eustathius and brought them back to the emperor.
Eustathius amassed an army and defeated the barbarians. On the way back to Rome, Eustathius found his wife and both sons. Meanwhile, Emperor Trajan had died and Emperor Hadrian was on the throne. When Hadrian summoned General Eusrtathius to offer sacrifices to the gods, Eustatius declined, declaring himself a Christian. The emperor subjected him and his wife and both of his sons to torture.
They were thrown to the wild beasts, but this did them no harm. Then they were cast into a red-hot metal ox. On the third day their dead bodies were removed, but they were unharmed by the fire. Thus, this glorious commander rendered unto Caesar the things which are Caesar’s and unto God the things that are God’s (Luke 20:25), and took up his habitation in the Eternal Kingdom of Christ our God.
Troparion & Kontakion
Troparion — Tone 4
Your holy martyr Eustáthius and his wife and sons, O Lord, / through their sufferings have received incorruptible crowns from You, our God. / For having Your strength, they laid low their adversaries, / and shattered the powerless boldness of demons. / Through their intercessions, save our souls!
Kontakion — Tone 2
(Podoben: “Thou didst seek the heights…”)
Clearly emulating the Passion of Christ, / and faithfully drinking of His cup, O communicant Eustáthios, you became a partaker and joint heir of His glory, / receiving divine forgiveness from on high from the God of all.