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Commemorated on June 22
The Priestmartyr
Eusebios, Bishop of Samosata, stood firmly for the Orthodox confession of
faith confirmed at the Ist OEcumenical Council at Nicea in the year 325. For
this he underwent persecution by the Arians, being repeatedly deprived of his
cathedra and banished into exile. The emperor Constantius (337-361), patron of
the Arians, having learned that Saint Eusebios kept a conciliar decree about
the election to the Antioch cathedra of the Orthodox Archbishop Meletios, sent
him a command 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. Saint Eusebios stretched out both hands to the
emissary with the words: "Cut them off, but the Decree of the Council,
which doth denounce the wickedness and iniquity of the Arians, I will not give
up". The emperor Constantius marveled at the audacity of the bishop, but
did him no harm.
After Constantius,
there reigned Justin the Apostate (361-363). Even more difficult times ensued
– there began an open persecution against Christians. Sainted Eusebios, having
concealed his dignity, 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, he put hands upon
bishops renouncing the Arian heresy. After Julian the Apostate perished, there
ruled the pious emperor Jovian (363-364), during which time the persecutions
stopped. Having returned from exile, Archbishop Meletios upon the advice of
Saint Eusebios convened a Local Council at Antioch in the year 379. In it
participated 27 bishops, and it re-affirmed the Orthodox teaching of faith
accepted at the Ist OEcumenical Council. The Arians, fearing the steadfast
defenders of Orthodoxy – Sainted-hierarchs Meletios, Eusebios and Pelagios,
who had great influence with the emperor, put their signatures under the
conciliar definition. After the death of the emperor Jovian began the rule of
the Arian Vanlentus (364-378). The Orthodox were again subjected to
persecution. Saint Meletios was banished to Armenia, Saint Pelagios – to
Arabia, and Saint Eusebios was condemned to exile in Thrace. Having received
the imperial decree, Saint Eusebios left Samosata by night so as to prevent
tumult among the people that esteemed him. Having learned about the departure
of the bishop, believers followed after him and with tears entreated him to
return. The saint refused to fulfill the entreaty of those who had come, saying
that it was necessary to obey the existing authorities. The saint urged his
flock to hold firm to Orthodoxy, blessed them and set off to the place of
exile. The Arian Eunomios was put upon the Samosata cathedra, but the people
did not accept the heretic. The Orthodox would not go to the church and avoided
meeting with him. The heretic Arian perceived, that it was impossible to entice
the independent flock to him.
The emperor Gracian
(375-383) came upon the throne, and there were brought back from exile all the
Orthodox hierarchs banished under the Arians. Saint Eusebios also returned to
Samosata and continued with the task of building up the church. Together with
Saint Meletios he supplied Orthodox hierarchs and clergy to Arian places. In
about the year 380, he arrived in the Arian city of Dolikhina to establish
there the Orthodox bishop Marinos. An Arian woman flung a roof tile which
struck the head of the sainted-bishop. In dying, he on the example of the
Saviour asked her for wine and requested those around not to do her any harm.
The body of Sainted Eusebios was taken to Samosata and with lamantation he was
buried by his flock. In place of the saint was raised up his nephew, Blessed
Antiokhos, and the Samosata Church continued to steadfastly confess the
Orthodox faith, firmly spread through the efforts of the holy Priestmartyr
Eusebios.
© 1996-2001 by translator Fr. S. Janos.
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