- Martyrs Eustratius, Auxentius, Eugene, Mardarius, and Orestes at Sebaste
- "These five courageous men shone like five resplendent stars in the
dark days of the anti-Christian Emperors Diocletian and Maximian. St
Eustratius was a Roman general in the city of Satalios, Eugene was one
of his comrades in arms and Orestes likewise a respected soldier.
Auxentius was a priest and Mardarius a simple citizen who came, like
Eustratius, from the town of Aravraca. The imperial governors, Lysias
and Agricola, tortured Auxentius first as he was a priest. Beholding the
innocent suffering of the Christians, Eustratius presented himself
before Lycias and declared that he also was a Christian. While
Eustratius was being tortured, Eugene stood up before the judge and
cried out: 'I am a Christian too, Lycias!' When they were driving
Eustratius and the other martyrs through the town, Mardarius saw them
from the roof of his house, and he took leave of his wife and two frail
daughters and hastened after them, shouting into the faces of their
tormentors: 'I am a Christian too, like the Lord Eustratius!' Orestes
was a young and handsome soldier, who stood head and shoulders above all
the other soldiers. One day, when he was at target practice in Lycias's
presence, the Cross he was wearing fell from his breast, and Lycias
realised that he was a Christian. Orestes openly confessed his faith,
and was martyred with the others. Auxentius was beheaded, Eugene and
Mardarius died under torture, Orestes was exposed on a red-hot iron grid
and Eustratius died in a flaming furnace. St Blaise (see Feb. 11th)
gave Communion to St Eustratius in prison before his death. Their relics
were later taken to Constantinople, and are preserved in the church
dedicated to them — The Holy Five Companions. They were seen alive in
that church, and St Orestes appeared to St Dimitri of Rostov (see Oct.
28th). A beautiful prayer by St Eustratius is extant, which is read at
the Midnight Service on Saturdays: 'I glorify Thy majesty, 0 Lord for
Thou hast regarded my lowliness and hast not shut me up in the hands of
my enemies, but hast saved my soul from want...'. " (Prologue)
source: http://www.abbamoses.com |
