The Holy and Great-Martyr Euphemia is commemorated on September 16th, the day on which she suffered. On this day is commemorated the miracle wrought by her precious holy relics, revealed at the time of the Fourth Ecumenical Council in Chalcedon. This Council was called together in the reign of the Emperor Marcian and the Empress Pulcheria, in 451 A.D., after the death of the Emperor Theodosius the Younger, and was summoned because of the heresy of Dioscorus, Patriarch of Alexandria, the Eutyches, and archimandrite in Constantinople, who had disseminated the false teaching that there were in Christ not two natures, Divine and human, but only one, a divine nature.
At this Council (Synod), the chief role was played by Anatolius, Patriarch of Constantinople and Juvenal, Patriarch of Jerusalem. Because, through the quarrels and evidence on both sides, no decision could be reached. Patriarch Anatolius suggested that the Orthodox and the heretics each write down their confession of faith, and that they be put into the coffin that contained the holy relics of Saint Euphemia. All agreed to this. Two confessions of faith, then, were written and placed in the hands of the great martyr. This coffin was closed and sealed with the imperial seal, a watch then being set over it. They then all spent three days in fasting and prayer. On the fourth day, when the tomb was opened, they saw the Orthodox confession of faith in the Saint’s right hand and the heretical one beneath her feet.
Thus was the conflict resolved by God’s power, on the side of Orthodoxy. In the time of the Emperor Heraclius, the holy relics of Saint Euphemia were translated from Chalcedon to Constantinople, to the church dedicated to her near the Hippodrome. The iconoclast Emperor Leo the Isaurian ordered that her holy relics be thrown into the sea; but, by a miraculous act, the coffin was brought to the island of Lemnos and placed in the church of the holy martyr Glykeria. Then, in the time of Empress Irene, the coffin with its holy relics was again taken to Constantinople, to its former place. Blood has flowed from these holy relics from time to time, to the succor of the sick and the feeble. (Source: The Prologue from Ochrid)
THE LIFE OF SAINT EUPHEMIA THE ALL-PRAISED (September 16)
The Holy Great Martyr Euphemia the All-Praised was the daughter of Christians, the senator Philophronos and Theodosia. She suffered for Christ in the year 304 A.D. in the city of Chalcedon, on the banks of the Bosphorus opposite Constantinople.
The Chalcedon governor Priscus circulated an order to all the inhabitants of Chalcedon and it surroundings to appear at a pagan festival to worship and offer sacrifice to an idol of Ares, threatening grave torments for anyone who failed to appear. During the impious pagan festival, 49 Christians were hidden in one house, where they secretly attended services to the True God.
The young maiden Euphemia was also among those praying there. Soon the hiding place of the Christians was discovered, and they were brought before Priscus to answer for themselves. For nineteen days the martyrs were subjected to various tortures and torments, but none of them wavered in their Christian faith nor consented to offer sacrifice to the idol. The governor, beside himself with rage and not knowing any other way of forcing the Christians to abandon their faith, sent them for trial to the Roman Emperor Diocletian. He kept the youngest, the virgin Euphemia, hoping that she would not remain strong if she were all alone.
Saint Euphemia, separated from her brethren in faith, fervently prayed the Lord Jesus Christ, that He strengthen her in her impending ordeal. Priscus at first urged the Saint to recant, promising her earthly blessings, but then he gave the order to torture her.
The Holy Martyr was tied to a wheel with sharp knives, which cut her body. The Saint prayed aloud, and as it happened, the wheel stopped by itself and would not move even with all the efforts of the executioners. An Angel of the Lord, came down from Heaven, removed Euphemia from the wheel and healed her of her wounds. The Saint gave thanks unto the Lord with gladness.
Not perceiving the miracle that had occurred, the torturer ordered the soldiers Victor and Sosthenes to take the Saint to a read-hot over. But the soldiers, seeing two fearsome Angels in the midst of the flames, refused to carry out the order of the governor and became believers in the God Whom Euphemia worshipped. Boldly proclaiming that they too were Christians, Victor and Sosthenes bravely went to suffering. They were sent to be eaten by wild beasts. During their execution, they cried out for mercy to God, asking that the Lord would receive them into the Heavenly Kingdom. A heavenly Voice answered their cries, and they entered into eternal life. The beasts, however, did not even touch their bodies.
Saint Euphemia, cast into the fire by other soldiers, remained unharmed. With the help of God she emerged unharmed after many other tortures and torments. Ascribing this to sorcery, the governor gave orders to dig out a new pit, and filling it with knives, he had it covered over with earth and grass, so that the martyr would not notice the preparation for her execution.
Here also Saint Euphemia remained safe, easily passing over the pit. Finally, they sentenced her to be devoured by wild beasts at the circus. Before execution the Saint began to implore that the Lord deem her worthy to die a violent death. But none of the beasts, set loose at her in the arena, attacked her. Finally, one of the she-bears gave her a small wound on the leg, from which came blood, and immediately the holy Great Martyr Euphemia died. During this time there was an earthquake, and both the guards and the spectators ran in terror, so that the parents of the Saint were able to take up her body and reverently bury it not far from Chalcedon.
A majestic church was afterwards built over the grave of the Great Martyr Euphemia. At this temple the sessions of the Fourth Ecumenical Council took place in the year 451 A.D. At that time, the Holy Great Martyr Euphemia confirmed the Orthodox confession in a miraculous manner, and exposed the Monophysite heresy.
With the taking of Chalcedon by the Persians in the year 617 A.D., the holy relics of the Holy Great Martyr Euphemia were transferred to Constantinople (in about the year 620). During the Iconoclast heresy, the relics of Saint Euphemia appears to have thrown into the sea. Pious sailors recovered them. They were afterwards taken to the Island of Lemnos, and in the year 796 A.D. they were returned to Constantinople.
Apolytikion (Dismissal) Hymn in Third Mode
O Euphemia, Christ’s comely virgin, thou didst fill the Orthodox with gladness and didst cover with shame all the heretics; for at the holy Fourth Council in Chalcedon, thou didst confirm what the Fathers decreed aright. O all-glorious Great Martyr, do thou entreat Christ God that His great mercy may be granted unto us.
Kontakion Hymn in the Second More
You made fervent effort in your struggles of trial, in your struggles of faith for Christ your bridegroom. But even now, intercede with the Theotokos that the heresies and insolence of enemies be trod beneath the feet of our rulers, O All Praised, who received and kept the Decree of the 630 God-bearing Fathers.
~Website of St. Andrew Greek Orthodox Church, South Bend, Indiana, http://saintandrewgoc.org/home/2016/7/11/the-miracle-of-saint-euphemia-the-great-martyr.
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