Holy Martyr Euplus

Life

Euplus was a deacon in Catania in Sicily. Emperor Diocletian sent to Sicily a certain commander Pentagurus to destroy Christians, should he find any there. Pentagurus found not a single Christian, for the few that there were hid themselves from the persecutor and did not make themselves known. Then someone accused holy Euplus of going about with a certain book to secret Christians and reading that book to them. That book was the Holy Gospel. When he was brought before the court for a brief time, they hung that book around his neck and led him to prison. After seven days of imprisonment and starvation, he was handed over for torture. When they were beating him with iron rods, Euplus mocked the judge and torturer and said: "Fool, do you not see that these torments are as cobwebs to me because of God's help? If you can, find other, fiercer ones, for these are like playthings." Finally they led the martyr of Christ to the place of execution. Then holy Euplus opened the Holy Gospel and read from it to the people at length. Many were converted to the Faith of Christ, and holy Euplus was beheaded in the year 304, and he departed into the Heavenly Kingdom. His wonder-working relics lie in a village near Naples called Vico della Batonia.

From the Hymn of Praise

A branch of Paradise was planted,And on earth she was nurtured.The branch grew and flourished,Her heart grew into heaven.