Her relics have attracted crowds of pilgrims for centuries.
REAL HEROES! – Saint Euphemia
Euphemia was born in Chalcedon of the Roman Empire, an ancient maritime town, which is now a district of Istanbul, Turkey. She was the daughter of pious parents, a senator, Philophronos and his wife, Theodosia. From her youth she dedicated her life to Christ and practiced virtues of prayer, fasting, and chastity with a consecration to virginity.
For a short time, known as “the little peace of the Church,” Christians lived relatively free of persecution. This was in contrast with the government since Rome had at the same time, begun to codify anti-Christian laws. With a change in power, Euphemia then lived during the Great Persecution under the Roman emperor Diocletian, whose Eastern Empire reign began in 284.
The governor of Chalcedon made a decree that all of the inhabitants must take part in sacrifices to the deity Ares, the Greek god of war. To keep from having to participate, Euphemia hid in a house with 49 other Christians while they worshipped God in defiance.
They were discovered, and due to their refusal to make the sacrifices and pay homage to the false god, they were tortured for several days. It was an effort to make them give in, which no one did. All were to be sent to the emperor for trial with exception to Euphemia who was the youngest. With her age, they thought she would betray Christ first if she was on her own, so they then separated her from the others. She was subjected to promises of worldly riches and other great rewards, but when she refused, they conducted harsh torments in hopes of breaking her spirit.
When all had failed, she was set as an example, condemned, and placed in the entertainment arena, in front of spectators, where lions were sent out to mangle and kill her. Instead, at the astonishment of all, the lions licked her wounds. Wild beasts were then sent in, and she was mauled by a bear.
Per the Fasti Vindobonenses, she was martyred on October 16, 303. A year later, Diocletian grew ill and weak and had to resign his title after only 20 years becoming the only roman emperor to do so.
Her feast day is September 16.
For God’s Glory.
