The Holy Martyrs Eugene, Candidus, Valerian and Aquila

Commemorated on January 21

      The Holy Martyrs Eugene, Candidus, Valerian and Aquila suffered for their faith in Christ during the reign of Diocletian and Maximian (284-305), under the regimental commander Licius. Valerian, Candidus and Aquila had hidden themselves away during the time of the persecution in the Granezond hills, preferring life among the wild beasts over living with the pagans. But there also there were soon found and brought to Granezond. For their bold and steadfast confession of faith in Christ the holy martyrs were whipped with ox thongs, cut at with iron, and then had salt poured on their wounds which then were scorched with fire. Several days later Saint Eugene was also arrested, and subjected to the same tortures. After the tortures they threw the four martyrs into a red‑hot oven; when they emerged from it unharmed, they were beheaded. The saints accepted a martyr's death towards the end of the III Century.

© 1996-2001 by translator Fr. S. Janos.