Wisdom from the Apostolic Fathers: Martyr & Archdeacon Euplus of Catania

Greetings,

I will continuing my series demonstrating the wisdom of those that helped solidify the Christian faith in its early years of existence.  In this post, I will talking about Euplus of Catania, a Holy Martyr and Archdeacon of Catania (an old region in Sicily).  Though there is not much recorded regarding his spoken words, his memory is remembered within the Orthodox Church vividly.

Below are two shorts sections about this amazing martyr:

"This Martyr was from Catania in Sicily and contested during the reign of Diocletian. He presented himself of his own accord to Calvisianus the Governor, who put him to exceedingly harsh torments. As Euplus was on the rack, Calvisianus commanded him to worship Mars, Apollo, and Aesculapius; he answered he worshipped the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. He was beheaded in the year 304." (http://www.goarch.org/chapel/saints_view?contentid=160)


"He was a deacon from Catania in Sicily. 'Me Emperor Diocletian sent a commander, Pentagurus, to Sicily to exterminate any Christians that he found there. Pentagurus did not find a single Christian, for they had hidden from the persecutor and did not show themselves. Then someone accused Euplus of taking a book to some secret Christians and reading to them. This book was the holy Gospel. He was therefore soon taken for trial, and, with the book hung round his neck, put in prison. After seven days of imprisonment and hunger, he was put to torture. When they whipped him with iron flails, Euplus mockingly said to the torturing judge: 'You fool; don't you see that these tortures are, to me, like a cobweb? If you can, find other, harsher tortures, as these are like playthings.' Finally, they led Christ's martyr to the scaffold. Then St Euplus opened the holy Gospel and read from it to the people for a long time. Many turned to the Christian faith, and St Euplus was beheaded, in the year 304, and went to the heavenly Kingdom. His wonderworking relics lie in a village near Naples called Vico della Batonia."
(http://www.pomog.org/prologue/August/24.htm)


In remembrance of his memory, these prayers are preserved within the Orthodox tradition:

 "Thy Martyr, O Lord, in his courageous contest for Thee received the prize of the crowns of incorruption and life from Thee, our immortal God. For since he possessed Thy strength, he cast down the tyrants and wholly destroyed the demons' strengthless presumption. O Christ God, by his prayers, save our souls, since Thou art merciful."

"While bearing in thy hands the divine laws of Christ God, thou camest to thy foes, in the stadium crying: Now being self-called, I come to contend with most firm resolve. Wherefore, having bent thy neck in great jubilation, thou was then beheaded with the sword, O wise Euplus, completing thy valiant course."

"The righteous will be glad when they are avenged, when they dip their feet in the blood of the wicked" (Psalms 58:10)