"O adamantine in soul, how can we rightly praise you?"

St. Eustathios the Great Martyr (source)

  
O adamantine in soul, how can we rightly praise you? For you surpassed nature when you were deprived of your wealth and your children and your spouse, as you cried out with the blessed and ever-memorable voice of Job: "The Lord giveth, the Lord taketh away, may the Lord be glorified." And this is what happened, for you loved God, and fervently desired Him, and again to you was given those whom you loved, who providentially became your fellow athletes, with whom you suffered many tortures and reached your blessed end, as you received them as your fellow intercessors, O Eustathios, steadfast in soul. We entreat you that we be delivered from our offenses.
-Doxastikon of the Aposticha in the Plagal of the Second Tone, by Ephraim Karias

(source)

 

St. Eustathios the Great Martyr with his family (source)

  

Through the prayers of our Holy Fathers, Lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy on us and save us! Amen!

St. George the New Hieromartyr of Neapolis (+1797)

Icon of the Saints celebrated on November 3rd: (first row) Sts. Akepsimas, George of Neapolis, Joseph, (second row) George the Great Martyr (the dedication of his church) and Aethalas (taken from: http://christopherklitou.com/icon_3_nov_george_aethalas_acepsimus_george_of_neapolis_joseph.htm)

St George the New Hieromartyr of Neapolis (Asia Minor) (+1797) - Commemorated on November 3rd

"Saint George, the new martyr of Christ, lived in Neapolis of Asia Minor (Nev-Sechir in Turkish) in the eighteenth century. He was a priest at the Church of the Dormition of the Theotokos and served his flock with righteousness and holiness as a true servant of the Most-high. Gifted with the qualities of love and meekness, brotherly love and forbearance, humble and spotless was his support and consolation of the Greek Christians who then lived under the yoke of the Turks. As an angel on earth the divine George willingly served his fellow men cultivating the divine gifts and pleasing to God.

In the year 1797 he was invited to the village Malakopi-located within six hours from Neapolis-to serve at some great feast and to bless their pious Christians, because their priest was ill, and or, in the opinion of others, was hiding from the fury of the Hagarenes [Turks]. The elder George now gladly accepted the invitation without considering the suffering and above all the risks.

St. George of Neapolis (source)

Mounting his shabby donkey, he proceeded willing. He approached close to Malakopi, when suddenly at “Kobia Dere ", meaning “ravine”, he experienced a wild attack of Turkish shepherds, who angrily fell on him with an indescribable fury. They robbed him they stripped him naked, and in the end they gave him a martyric death, cutting off his precious head. His body, naked and bloodied, with his head they left in an adjacent canyon, but his soul flew close to its Lord to be numbered among the Righteous and the Hieromartyrs.

Four days passed without the Holy priest reaching Malakopi, but also not returning to Neapolis. Concerned citizens of Neapolis went in search of him. They found his holy body and his precious head and lamenting and weeping at his difficult death, a shepherd hastily buried him, fearing the fury of Hagarenes. Above his grave a stone bore the simple inscription: “The Priest George”.

St. George of Neapolis (Icon courtesy of www.eikonografos.com used with permission)

Some time passed, until one night the holy hieromartyr appeared in a vision to a pious widow relating to her what happened and urging her to inform the Mayor to look to find the location in which he was buried. The woman did not give importance to it, but when after a few days the dream was repeated, she was fearful and did what the saint asked. Without delay the pious citizens of Neapolis led by a priest, called Neophytos, son also of priest Basilios, fellow priest? [συνεφημερίου] of the saint, hastened and excavated that shallow? [πρόχειρο] grave. Oh, the miracle! The relic of the Saint remained whole and incorrupt spreading heavenly fragrance and Grace! After they venerated it with reverence and awe, they placed in a wooden casket and carried it to the home of Fr. Neophytos, according to the desire of the Saint himself, and kept it in a cell.

There many came, locals and foreigners, to venerate the Saint and receive blessing from his venerable relic. Miracles began to occur. The sick and disabled were healed, childless couples bore children, spiritual illnesses disappeared, and further during drought the citizens of Neapolis fled to the Saint, that they might shortly see the blessed rain fall strongly. All confessed how miraculous St. George was shown to be!

In 1924, with the exchange of populations, the Greeks of Cappadocia left for free Greece, each taking with him whatever he considered most precious. The then priest of the Church of the Dormition of the Theotokos archimandrite Ignatios, perceiving his first responsibility to safely transfer the miraculous and incorrupt relic of St. George, brought it from the shore of Mersinis by steamer to Attica. During the journey they had very rough seas, but they were lulled with a miracle of the Saint.

Another icon of St. George of Neapolis (taken from: http://www.holynativityconvent.com/images/Webimageslarge/Laser%20Large%20Images/St-George-of-Neapolis-web.jpg)
  

In Attica the sacred relic was handed over to citizens of Neapolis, who placed it with reverence in the Church of St. Eustathios in New Neapolis, Perissos. Since then countless are the miracles and the healings which St. George worked to those who call on his name with faith.
 

The Reliquary containing the Holy and Incorrupt Relic of St. George of Neapolis, treasured by the Church of St. Eustathios, Nea Neapolis, Perissos (Athens) (source)

 

Other Holy Relics treasured in the Church of St. Eustathios, including the Skull of St. Gregory of Nyssa, and Holy Relics of Sts. Theodore Tyron, Theodore Stratelates, and St. George Karslides (source)

 
Since 2/11/1999, at request of the first Metropolitan Dionysios and noble concession of the Metropolitan of Trifilias and Olympias Stephen, a piece of the sacred relics of the Saint are treasured at the Holy Metropolis Church of St. George of Neapolis, as a permanent blessing of the people of the Metropolis bearing the name of Christ."
(amateur translation of text from here: http://www.imnst.gr/index.php?id=11)

For a video of the Church of St. Eusthathios, Perissos, Athens, along with icons and the Holy Relic of St. George of Neapolis, see: http://apantaortodoxias.blogspot.com/2009/11/3.html.

Icon depicting Christ seated, with Saints of Neapolis: (right to left) Sts. George of Neapolis, Athanasios Koulakiotou, Akakios Asvestochoritou, and George the Great Martyr (taken from: http://www.imnst.gr/images/neapolites.jpg)

Στίχοι.

Γεώργιον ἔμψυχον Κυρίῳ ὤφθης,

Γεώργιε ὅσιε, τμηθεὶς τὴν κάραν.

(http://voutsinasilias.blogspot.com/2009/10/3.html)

Apolytikion (for a Hieromartyr) 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 George. Intercede with Christ our God that our souls be saved.

(altered from: http://www.goarch.org/chapel/saints/68)

St. George of Neapolis, the New Righteous Hieromartyr of Christ (+1797) (http://pravicon.com/images/sv/s0511/s0511001.jpg)

  

Through the prayers of our Holy Fathers, Lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy on us and save us! Amen!

St. Eustathius (Eustace) Placidas the Great Martyr with his wife and children

St. Eustathius (Eustace) Placidas the Great Martyr with his wife and children - Commemorated on September 20 (icon taken from: http://www.ec-patr.org/eikones/saints/texts/s_eustathios0.htm)
  

"The Holy Great Martyr Eustathius was named Placidas before his Baptism. He was a military commander under the emperors Titus (79-81) and Trajan (98-117). Even before he came to know Christ, Placidas performed acts of charity, helping the poor and destitute. Therefore, the Lord did not leave the virtuous pagan remain in the darkness of idolatry.

Once while hunting in a forest, he saw a stag which would stop now and then to look him right in the eye. Placidas pursued it on horseback, but could not catch up. The stag leaped over a chasm and stood on the other side facing him. Placidas suddenly saw a radiant Cross between its antlers. In surprise the military commander heard a voice coming from the Cross saying, "Why do you pursue Me, Placidas?"

Icon of St. Eustathios hunting, and beholding the divine vision (Icon courtesy of www.eikonografos.com used with permission)

"Who are You, Master?" asked Placidas.The Voice replied, "I am Jesus Christ, Whom you do not know, yet you honor Me by your good deeds. I have appeared here on this creature for your sake, to capture you in the net of My love for mankind. It is not fitting that one as righteous as you should worship idols and not know the truth. It was to save mankind that I came into the world."

Placidas cried out, "Lord, I believe that You are the God of Heaven and earth, the Creator of all things. Master, teach me what I should do." Again the Lord replied, "Go to the bishop of your country and receive Baptism from him, and he will instruct you."

St. Eustathios' revelation of Christ (http://pravicon.com/images/sv/s0714/s0714005.jpg)

  

Placidas returned home and joyfully recounted everything to his wife Tatiana. She in turn told him how the evening before, in a mysterious dream, she had been told, "Tomorrow you, your husband and your sons shall come to Me and know that I am the true God. The spouses then proceeded to do as they had been bidden.
  

They hastened to the Christian bishop, who baptized all their family, and communed them with the Holy Mysteries. Placidas was renamed Eustathius, his wife was called Theopiste, and their children, Agapius and Theopistus.
  

On the following day, St Eustathius set out to the place of his miraculous conversion and in fervent prayer he offered up thanks to the Lord for having called him onto the path of salvation.

Again St Eustathius received a miraculous revelation. The Lord Himself foretold his impending tribulations: "Eustathius, you shall suffer many misfortunes, as did Job, but in the end you will conquer the devil."

Another icon of St. Eustathios (Icon courtesy of www.eikonografos.com used with permission)
  

Soon St Eustathius was plunged into misfortune: all his servants died of the plague and his cattle perished. Brought to ruin, but not despairing in spirit, St Eustathius and his family secretly abandoned their home, to live unknown, humble and in poverty.
  

They went to Egypt to board a ship sailing for Jerusalem. During the voyage a new woe beset the saint. The ship owner, enchanted by Theopiste's beauty, cruelly set Eustathius and his children ashore, keeping the wife for himself.
  

In great sorrow the saint continued on his way, and new woe beset him. Coming to a tempestuous river, he went to carry his two sons across in turn. When he had brought one across, the other was seized by a lion and carried off into the wilderness. As he turned back towards the other, a wolf dragged that child into the forest.
  

Having lost everything, St Eustathius wept bitterly, but he realized that Divine Providence had sent him these misfortunes to test his endurance and devotion to God. In his inconsolable grief, St Eustathius went on farther, prepared for new tribulations.
  

St. Eustathios the Great Martyr (https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRcN784v_qTU9W2mibn1-rtghrmzSJ3q0Jduqlb3DIuwMe8PHSIkKV5X_bp0cAVANbGOFpsxqp54SOKcxgigJJHfM-NJ4swykQdhj8Kwp7EmnmlmoG5eZHc5B_Zf1d4a7kEWup7kJAp1Y/s1600/ag-Eystathios.png)

  

In the village of Badessos he found work and spent five years in unremitting toil. St Eustathius did not know then that through the mercy of God, shepherds and farmers had saved his sons, and they lived right near him. He also did not know that the impudent shipowner had been struck down with a terrible disease and died, leaving St Theopiste untouched. She lived in peace and freedom at the place where the ship landed.

  

During this time it had become difficult for the emperor Trajan to raise an army for Rome to deal with a rebellion, for the soldiers would not go into battle without their commander Placidas. They advised Trajan to send men out to all the cities to look for him.
  

Antiochus and Acacius, friends of Placidas, sought him in various places. Finally, they arrived in the village where St Eustathius lived. The soldiers found Eustathius, but they did not recognize him and they began to tell him of the one whom they sought, asking his help and promising a large reward. St Eustathius, immediately recognized his friends, but did not reveal his identity to them.
  

Detail of fresco of St. Eustathios, from the Protaton, Mount Athos, by Panselinos (taken from: http://www.myriobiblos.gr/museum/gallery/panselinos3.html)
  

He borrowed money from one of his friends and fed the visitors. As they looked at him, the travellers noted that he resembled their former commander. When they saw a scar on his shoulder from a deep sword-wound, they realized that it was their friend there before them. They embraced him with tears and told him why they were seeking him.
  

St Eustathius returned to Rome with them and again became a general. Many new recruits were drafted into the army from all over the empire. He did not know that two young soldiers who served him, and whom he loved for their skill and daring, were actually his own sons. They did not know that they were serving under the command of their own father, nor that they were brothers by birth.

While on campaign, the army led by Eustathius halted at a certain settlement. The soldier-brothers were talking in their tent. The elder one spoke about his life, how he had lost his mother and brother, and how in a terrifying way he had been parted from his father. The younger brother then realized that before him was his very own brother, and told him how he had been rescued from the wolf.

A woman overheard the soldiers' conversation, since their tent was pitched right next to her house, and this woman realized that these were her sons. Still not identifying herself to them, but not wanting to be separated from them, she went to their commander, St Eustathius, to ask him to take her to Rome with him. She said she had been a prisoner, and wanted to go home. Then she came to recognize the commander as her husband, and with tears she told him about herself and about the two soldiers who were actually their sons. Thus, through the great mercy of the Lord, the whole family was happily reunited.
  

Icon of St. Eustathios and his sons, Sts. Agapios and Theopistos (taken from: http://www.mylopotamos.com/Gallery4/Gal4_pic2.htm)
  

Soon thereafter the rebellion was crushed, and St Eustathius returned to Rome with honor and glory. The emperor Trajan had since died, and his successor Hadrian (117-138) wanted to celebrate the event of victory with a solemn offering of sacrifice to the gods. To the astonishment of everyone, St Eustathius did not show up at the pagan temple. By order of the emperor they searched frantically for him.
  

"Why don't you want to worship the gods?" the emperor inquired. "You, above all others, ought to offer thanks to them. They not only preserved you in war and granted you victory, but also they helped you find your wife and children." St Eustathius replied: "I am a Christian and I glorify and give thanks to Him, and I offer sacrifice to Him. I owe my life to Him. I do not know or believe in any other god than Him."
  

In a rage, the emperor ordered him to take off his military belt and brought him and his family before him. They did not succeed in persuading the steadfast confessors of Christ to offer sacrifice to idols. The whole family of St Eustathius was sentenced to be torn apart by wild beasts, but the beasts would not touch the holy martyrs.
  

The martyrdom of St. Eustathius and his family (http://pravicon.com/images/sv/s0714/s0714006.jpg)

  

Then the cruel emperor gave orders to throw them all alive into a red-hot brass bull, and St Eustathius, his wife Theopiste, and their sons Agapius and Theopistus endured a martyr's death. Before being placed in the bull, St Eustathius prayed, "Grant, O Lord, Thy grace to our relics, and grant to those who call upon us a place in Thy Kingdom. Though they call upon us when they are in danger on a river or on the sea, we entreat Thee to come to their aid."
  

St. Eustathios with his family being martyred (source)

   
Three days later, they opened the brass bull, and the bodies of the holy martyrs were found unscathed. Not one hair on their heads was singed, and their faces shone with an unearthly beauty. Many seeing this miracle came to believe in Christ. Christians then buried the bodies of the saints." (taken from: http://ocafs.oca.org/FeastSaintsViewer.asp?SID=4&ID=1&FSID=102674)
   

Detail of fresco depicting the Martyrdom of St. Eustathios and his family, from Decani Monastery (taken from: http://www.srpskoblago.org/Archives/Decani/exhibits/Menologion/September/CX4K3471_l.html)
  

HYMN OF PRAISE
The Holy Great-martyr Eustathius

(by St. Nikolai Velimerovich)

Eustathius, a wonder among generals,

Gave his life for the Living Lord.

Authority and glory and royal honor

He discarded as refuse and chaff,

For the sake of Christ, the Immortal King,

For the sake of true eternal life.

When the voice of Jesus greeted him,

He was infused with ardent love

For Christ the All-glorious God-

The All-glorious Lover of Mankind.

That voice remained deep in his soul,

And the world could not drown it out;

And the radiant cross which the general saw,

Never left his soul.

The Cross gave him wondrous fearlessness.

The Cross saved him from the enemy's power,

And saved his spouse, faithful as a rock,

And his children, heroic and virtuous.

Eustathius gave his body over to the fire,

And his blessed spirit to the Lord.

O Eustathius, glorious martyr,

Invincible soldier of Christ,

Help and strengthen the Church of God

That the malicious demon not slander it.

Let the Church shine as a star,

And glorify her Sun, Christ.

(taken from: http://www.westsrbdio.org/prolog/prolog.htm)
  

St. Eustathios and his family, with scenes from their life (http://pravicon.com/images/sv/s0714/s0714011.jpg)

   

The holy "seat" of Mylopotamos on Mount Athos (a dependancy of Megiste Lavra), founded by St. Athanasios the Athonite, is dedicated to St. Eustathios. A CD of music from the feast of St. Eustathios is available (in Greek), and short preview clips are available here: http://www.mylopotamos.com/theCDmylo.htm. Also, a full text of the service of St. Eustathios and those with him (in Greek) is available here: http://voutsinasilias.blogspot.com/2009/09/20_16.html.
  

Icon of Sts. Eustatios, Theopiste, Agapios and Theopistos the Martyrs (taken from: http://christopherklitou.com/icon_20_sept_eustathius_placidas_theopistus_agapius_theopiste.htm)
  

Apolytikion in the Fourth Tone
Thy Martyrs, O Lord, in their courageous contest for Thee received as the prize the crowns of incorruption and life from Thee, our immortal God. For since they possessed Thy strength, they cast down the tyrants and wholly destroyed the demons' strengthless presumption. O Christ God, by their prayers, save our souls, since Thou art merciful.
  

Kontakion in the Second Tone
O blest one, since thou didst emulate Christ's sufferings and drankest His cup with eagerness, thou didst become a partaker and joint-heir of His glory, O wise Eustathius; and since He is God of all things, He gave thee divine power from Heaven's heights.

(taken from: http://goarch.org/chapel/saints_view?contentid=211)

   

St. Eustathios the Great Martyr (http://www.ruicon.ru/exhibition/1x1.php?page_30=2&)

   

 St. Eustathios with his Holy Wife and Two Children, icon by Michael Hadjimichael (source)

     

St. Eustathios with his wife and children (source)

  
Through the prayers of our Holy Fathers, Lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy on us and save us! Amen!