Commemorated on October 15
Euthymius was raised in a Christian home and was blessed with a meek and gentle spirit from an early age. After losing his father when he was 7 years old, he took on the role of the “man” in his household. He supported his mother as he grew and remained obedient and pious. When he came of age, he served in the military. When he returned, due to his mother’s persistence, he married.
After his wife bore their first child, a baby girl, he left home and went to a monastery on Mount Olympus in secret.
He remained there, learning the ascetic life for 15 years. He then made the choice to transfer to Mount Athos. Along the way on his journey he was told that both his mother and wife were doing well. He shared with then what he had been doing also, and gave them the gift of a cross, telling them to follow Christ as well.
While on Mount Athos he was tonsured into the Great Schema and lived alone for three years in a cave. He did not speak and fought hard against him passions. He also practiced as a stylite, which is a translated to mean “pillar dweller”. Traditonally, this style of living would result in one standing on a tall pillar and preaching to the people. Very seldom would they come down and they often even rested upright. The belief is to mortify the body while cleansing the spirit. While Euthymius lived in this way, he taught many and guided them toward the faith alongside healing the sick.
He worked very hard to detach himself from all temptations and cleared his mind and heart from wicked desires. He then was also graced with extraordinary visions and commands from God.
He was instructed to build two new monasteries near Thessalonica. They both were on Mount Peristeros. He remained at the monasteries for almost 15 years. At the Monastery of ______ both his wife and mother did take his advice and were tonsured as nuns.
He then went back to an island of Mount Athos shorlty before his death. There he lived out his life in peace and gave his soul unto the Lord in 898 AD. Today his relics remain in Thessalonica.
Troparion & Kontakion
Troparion β Tone 8
The image of God was truly preserved in you, O Father, / for you took up the Cross and followed Christ. / By so doing you taught us to disregard the flesh for it passes away / but to care instead for the soul, since it is immortal. / Therefore your spirit, venerable Euthymius, rejoices with the angels.
Kontakion β Tone 2
Crossing dryshod through the storms of life, / venerable and divinely wise Euthymius, / you mightily drowned the bodiless foe in the streams of your tears; / you received the gift of miracles to heal all sufferings. / Unceasingly pray for us all.