Holy Hieromartyr Eusebius, Bishop of Samosata (+ 380)

Hieromartyr Eusebius of Samosota (Feast Day - June 22)

Verses

A roof tile Eusebius Martyr of the Lord,
Straightway gave you a crown on your head.
On the twenty-second the head of Eusebius was crushed.

The Hieromartyr Eusebius, Bishop of Samosata, stood firmly for the Orthodox Confession of Faith proclaimed at the First Ecumenical Council at Nicea in the year 325. For this he underwent persecution by the Arians, being repeatedly deprived of his see and banished. The emperor Constantius (337-361), patron of the Arians, learned that St Eusebius kept a conciliar decree regarding the election of the Orthodox Archbishop Meletius to the See of Antioch. He commanded him to give up the decree. The saint boldly refused to do as ordered. The enraged emperor sent a message that if he did not give up the decree, then his right hand would be cut off. St Eusebius stretched out both hands to the emissary saying, "Cut them off, but I will not give up the Decree of the Council, which denounces the wickedness and iniquity of the Arians." The emperor Constantius marveled at the audacity of the bishop, but did not harm him.

During the reign of Justin the Apostate (361-363), even more difficult times ensued, and an open persecution against Christians began. St Eusebius, having concealed his identity, went about in the garb of a soldier across the whole of Syria, Phoenicia and Palestine, urging Christians to the Orthodox Faith. He established priests and deacons in desolated churches, and he consecrated bishops who renounced the Arian heresy. After Julian the Apostate's death, he was succeeded by the pious emperor Jovian (363-364), during whose reign the persecutions stopped. Returning from exile, St Meletius (February 12) convened a local Council at Antioch in the year 379 on the advice of St Eusebius. Twenty-seven bishops participated, and it reaffirmed the Orthodox teaching of the First Ecumenical Council. The Arians signed the conciliar definition, fearing the steadfast defenders of Orthodoxy, the holy hierarchs Meletius, Eusebius and Pelagios, who had great influence with the emperor. After the death of Jovian the Arian Vanlentus (364-378) came to power.

The Orthodox were again subjected to persecution. St Meletius was banished to Armenia, St Pelagius to Arabia, and St Eusebius was condemned to exile in Thrace. Having received the imperial decree, St Eusebius left Samosata by night so as to prevent tumult among the people that esteemed him. Having learned of of the bishop's departure, believers followed after him and with tears entreated him to return. The saint refused the entreaty of those who had come, saying that he had to obey the authorities. The saint urged his flock to hold firm to Orthodoxy, blessed them and set off to the place of exile. The Arian Eunomios became Bishop of Samosata, but the people did not accept the heretic. The Orthodox would not go to the church and avoided meeting with him. The heretical Arian perceived that it was impossible to attract the independent flock to him.

The emperor Gracian (375-383) came upon the throne, and all the Orthodox hierarchs banished under the Arians were brought back from exile. St Eusebius also returned to Samosata and continued with the task of building up the Church. Together with St Meletius he supplied Orthodox hierarchs and clergy to Arian places. In the year 380 he arrived in the Arian city of Dolikhina to establish the Orthodox bishop Marinus there. An Arian woman threw a roof tile at the holy bishop's head. As he lay dying, he asked her for wine and requested those around not to do her any harm. The body of St Eusebius was taken to Samosata and was buried by his flock. The saint's nephew, Antiochus, succeeded him and the Samosata Church continued to confess the Orthodox Faith, firmly spread through the efforts of the holy Hieromartyr Eusebius.

Saint Gregory the Theologian addressed several letters to Eusebius (PG 37:87, 91, 126-130); he had such reverence for him, that in one letter to him, commending himself to Saint Eusebius' prayers, he said, "That such a man should deign to be my patron also in his prayers, will gain for me, I am persuaded, as much strength as I should have gained through one of the holy martyrs."

Apolytikion in the Fourth Tone

As a sharer of the ways and a successor to the throne of the Apostles, O inspired of God, thou foundest discipline to be a means of ascent to divine vision. Wherefore, having rightly divided the word of truth, thou didst also contest for the Faith even unto blood, O Hieromartyr Eusebius. Intercede with Christ our God that our souls be saved.

Another Apolytikion in the Fourth Tone
Illumined by the Spirit's wisdom, thou didst reveal God's word, O glorious Eusebius; for as a Hierarch of the Trinity, in thy holy contest thou didst destroy errors. Holy Father pray that we all may be saved.

Kontakion in Plagal of the Fourth Tone
Thou didst sow godly teachings and uproot the tares of Arius, and wast adorned with the martyr's crown; thou didst proclaim God the Word to be of one essence with the Father and the Spirit, wherefore we cry to thee: Rejoice, O Father Eusebius.

Another Kontakion in the Fourth Tone

You lived piously as a bishop, and trod the path of martyrdom. You extinguished idolatrous burnt offerings, Hierarch Eusebius. Since you have boldness before Christ God, entreat Him that our souls may be saved.

Saints and Feasts of June 22

On the twenty-second the head of Eusebius was crushed.

Holy Hieromartyr Eusebius, Bishop of Samosata

 

Holy Hieromartyr Eusebius, Bishop of Samosata (+ 380) 

 

Saint Eusebius of Samosata as a Model for our Lives

 

June: Day 22: Holy Hieromartyr Eusebius of Samosata

 

 

Holy Martyrs Zenon and Zenas

Holy Martyrs Zenon and Zenas of Philadelphia

Holy Martyr Pompianos

Holy Martyrs Pompianos, Galation, Juliana and Satorninos

Holy Martyr Galation

Holy Martyrs Pompianos, Galation, Juliana and Satorninos

Holy Martyrs Juliana and her son Satorninos

Holy Martyrs Pompianos, Galation, Juliana and Satorninos

Holy Martyr Alban of Britain

Saint Alban, First Martyr of Britain

Saint Alban the Martyr of Britain

Saint Nicetas, Bishop of Remesiana

Saint Nicetas, Bishop of Remesiana (+ 414)

Saint Anastasia of Serbia

 

Saint Anastasia of Serbia, Mother of Saint Sava (+ 1200)

 

 

Holy New Hieromartyrs Ambrosios, Neophytos 

and Venerable Martyr Makarios of Vatopaidi

 

Holy New Martyrs Ambrosios, Neophytos and Makarios of Vatopaidi (+ 1821)

Saint Gregory the Teacher of Vatopaidi

Saint Gregory the Teacher (+ 1834)

Life of Our Holy Father Meletios, Archbishop of Antioch

St. Meletios of Antioch (Feast Day - February 12)

 

The holy Meletius was a member of one of the noblest families of Lesser Armenia and was born in the city of Melitene. Renowned for his piety and meek demeanor, he was elected to the see of Sebastea in the year 357, but met with such violent opposition that he departed his diocese and made his abode in the desert, later retiring to the town of Beria in Syria.

Eudoxus, Archbishop of Antioch, [1] a proponent of the Arian heresy, was attracted by the wealth of the see of Constantinople and wished to transfer thither. His opportunity came when the infamous heretic Macedonius, [2] who had hitherto held the position of archpastor in Constantinople, was expelled. During the reign of Constantius, [3] son of the holy Emperor Constantine the Great, the Church of Constantinople abounded in great treasures and was far richer than the Church of Antioch and the others. Hence, Eudoxus, disdaining the see of Antioch, began to covet the see of Constantinople. But the inhabitants of Antioch, learning of the intrigues of their archbishop, were greatly offended, incensed against him because he had spurned his own Church, and for this cause they drove him from their midst. And betaking himself to Constantinople, Eudoxus indeed did manage to obtain the cathedra of that city.

Saint Eusebius of Samosata as a Model for our Lives

St. Eusebius of Samosata (Feast Day - June 22)

By Protopresbyter Fr. George Papavarnavas

The Hieromartyr Eusebius, Bishop of Samosata, was an advocate of Orthodox faith and piety. Thus he was by name and deed pious, for this is what the name "Eusebius" means. Saint Gregory the Theologian, in a letter to him, calls him "a pillar and foundation of piety, a luminary of the Church and rule of faith." He lived in the fourth century, when the Church was facing the temptations of the heresy of Arius, who believed that the Son and Word of God, the Second Person of the Holy Trinity, is not perfect God equal to God the Father, but a creation of God created in time. However, if this was true, then salvation would be impossible, for only God has the power to save. Yet we know from Holy Scripture and the living tradition of the Church, that Christ came into the world to save it and to abolish the works of the devil. And His coming as Messiah and Savior was confirmed with miracles which He did and continues to do.

Holy Hieromartyr Dionysios, Bishop of Alexandria (+ 265)

St. Dionysios of Alexandria (Feast Day - October 3)

Verses

Dionysios and his fellow eight contestants,
From the darkness below were transpositioned to a place inhabited by light.

Much of the information about his life comes from the extensive correspondence he maintained during his life that survived in the Ecclesiastical History of Eusebius. Dionysios was born about the year 190 in Alexandria to a pagan family of wealth, and he was well read. After a divine vision instructing him to do so, he studied in depth the traditions of the heretics after becoming a Christian at a mature age in order to be able to refute them. Dionysios joined the Catechetical School of Alexandria where he became a student of Origen and Heraklas. In 232, as Heraklas became the Bishop of Alexandria, Dionysios, now a priest, succeeded him as leader of the school.

Life of Saint Gregory of Nyssa

 

On the 10th of January, 

the holy Church commemorates 

our holy father among the saints, 

Gregory of Nyssa.1

Gregory, Bishop of Nyssa (372)2 is to be praised for the holiness of his conduct of life, his theological knowledge, and his zealous promotion of the Orthodox Faith embodied in the Nicene clauses. He is believed to have been born at Caesarea, the capital of Cappadocia, ca. 335 or 336. The family of Saint Gregory was wealthy, distinguished, and conspicuously Orthodox. He was the younger brother of Saint Basil the Great (ca. 330-379). Our saint made no account of his honorable descent. He left blood lines, wealth, and splendor to the friends of this world. He believed that the Christian's lineage was his affinity with the divine.