The Martyrs Eudoxius, Zeno, Macarius and their Companions received a martyric death for Christ under the emperor Maximian Galerius, the successor of the emperor Diocletian.
Saint Eudoxius held the high position of a military commander in the imperial armies. He was a Christian, as were his friend Zeno and his house steward Macarius. After the emperor Diocletian issued an edict that Christians who refused to offer sacrifice to idols were to be put to death, many people fled to various lands with their families to avoid torture and death. At this time Saint Eudoxius resigned his high position, and with his wife Saint Basilissa and all their family abandoned their property and went into hiding in the region of Armenian Melitene.
The governor of Melitene sent soldiers to search for Eudoxius. When they found Eudoxius, he was attired in white garb. Not recognising him, the soldiers began to question whether a certain military commander Eudoxius had come into these parts. Not revealing who he was, the saint invited the soldiers into his home, fed them and gave them lodging for the night.
Saint Eudoxius considered his encounter with the soldiers as a sign from the Lord of his impending death by martyrdom. In the morning, he disclosed to his guests that he was the one whom they were seeking. In gratitude for the hospitality, the soldiers offered to conceal from the authorities that they had found Saint Eudoxius. However, the saint would not consent to this.
Setting his affairs in order, he told his wife not to weep for him, but on the contrary to celebrate the day of his martyric death. Donning his military garb, he went with the soldiers to the governor. Saint Basilissa and his friends Saints Zeno and Macarius followed after Saint Eudoxius.
The governor tried to persuade Saint Eudoxius to offer sacrifice to the idols and by this safeguard his life, exalted rank and property. Saint Eudoxius firmly refused, denouncing the folly of anyone who would worship soulless idols. He removed his soldier’s belt, the emblem of his authority, and threw it in the governor’s face.
Soldiers present at this, secret Christians, did the same thing, and they numbered more than a thousand men. The embarrassed governor asked the emperor what he should do. He was ordered to try the ringleaders and set the others free.
After prolonged tortures, they led Saint Eudoxius forth to execution. Following after her husband, Saint Basilissa wept, and his friend Saint Zeno also wept for the martyr. Saint Eudoxius again urged his wife not to mourn him, but rather to rejoice that he was worthy of the crown of martyrdom. He asked that she bury his body in a place called Amimos.
To his weeping friend Saint Zeno Saint Eudoxius predicted that they would enter the Kingdom of Heaven at the same time. Emboldened by these words, Zeno loudly declared himself a Christian, for which he was immediately sentenced to death.
Later, Saint Basilissa took her husband’s body without hindrance, and buried it in the place where he had requested. After this, they arrested the saint and led her before the governor. Desiring to share the fate of her husband, she fearlessly denounced both the governor and his false gods, the idols. The governor, however, saw her intent and would not torture her, but instead sent her away. As she left, the saint said to him that God would see her intention to suffer for her faith and would accept this intent as an accomplished deed.
Seven days later, Saint Eudoxius appeared to his wife in a vision and bade her to inform his friend and house steward Macarius, that both he and Saint Zeno awaited the arrival of Macarius. Macarius immediately went to the governor and declared himself a Christian, for which he was sentenced to death and beheaded. Many Christians also suffered martyrdom during this time.
Canon to the Martyr Eudoxius, in Tone VIII
Ode I, Irmos: Having traversed the water as though it were dry land, and escaped the evil of Egypt, the Israelite cried aloud: Let us chant unto our Deliverer and God!
Holy Martyr Eudoxius, pray to God for us.
O ye who desire to proclaim the glories of the martyrs, come, let us all praise Eudoxius, great among martyrs, holding festival with cymbals as did David.
Holy Martyr Eudoxius, pray to God for us.
Throughout the whole world went the impious command not to worship the living God, but idols. But thou, O martyr, didst worship thy God, the God of heaven.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
O martyr Eudoxius, thou glory of the pious, true to thy name, amidst the unjust judges that wounded thee didst thou confess Christ God Who is unoriginate.
Now & ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
O Mother who knewest not a husband, the ranks of angels and men unceasingly praise thee, for thou didst bear their Creator in thine arms as a babe.
Ode III, Irmos: O Christ, Who in the beginning established the heavens in wisdom and founded the earth upon the waters, make me steadfast upon the rock of Thy commandments; for none is holy as Thee, O Thou Who lovest mankind.
Holy Martyr Eudoxius, pray to God for us.
Like a lamb wast thou led to the slaughter, O martyr Eudoxius, neither protesting, nor crying out, O most blessed one, emulating the life of Christ thy Teacher. Wherefore, thou hast received unending glory.
Holy Martyr Eudoxius, pray to God for us.
To those who served idols thou didst cry out, O martyr: My God liveth forever, but your gods are the works of men’s hands; falling, they cannot rise up, for they are inanimate, graven images!
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
The arts of the enemy hast thou cast down, establishing thy mind upon the rock of the Church of Christ. Wherefore, thou didst cry out: This corruptible life do I leave for life everlasting!
Now & ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
God the Word, equally enthroned and everlasting with the Father, wishing to restore the first of our race, took Adam’s hypostasis of thee, O pure one, finding thee to be the most holy of all women, O Mother of God.
Ode IV, Irmos: I have heard, O Lord, the mystery of Thy dispensation; I have understood Thy works, and have glorified Thy divinity.
Holy Martyr Eudoxius, pray to God for us.
Thou didst denounce the deception of those who sought to force thee to renounce everlasting life and to love a life of vanity.
Holy Martyr Eudoxius, pray to God for us.
Wounded, thou didst rejoice in the Word Who was slain in the flesh for our sake, and thou didst cry out to thy tormentors: My sufferings are undeserved!
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
The gods whom ye serve have mouths, yet cannot speak! thou didst exclaim, O Eudoxius. “Let those who fashion them be like unto them!”
Now & ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
As Thou art sinless, O Unknowable One, grant us purification, and calm Thou the world, O God, through the prayers of her who gave Thee birth.
Ode V, Irmos: Enlighten us with Thy commandments, O Lord, and with Thine upraised arm grant us Thy peace, O Thou Who lovest mankind.
Holy Martyr Eudoxius, pray to God for us.
“Thou art my strength!” thou didst cry out, O Eudoxius. O Christ God Who suffered in the flesh, make me steadfast, for, lo! I suffer in torment.
Holy Martyr Eudoxius, pray to God for us.
“Thou art a treasury of entreaties, O Christ God! Disdain me not!” didst thou cry amid the tortures, O Eudoxius, stout of heart.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Fearing neither the sword nor the fire, Eudoxius cried out to the tormentor: “Behold, I have the mighty strength of the God I serve!”
Now & ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Heal thou the weakness of my passions, O pure one, making me worthy of thy visitation, and by thine entreaties grant me health.
Ode VI, Irmos: Cleanse me, O Savior, for many are my transgressions; and lead me up from the abyss of evils, I pray, for to Thee have I cried, and Thou hast hearkened to me, O God of my salvation.
Holy Martyr Eudoxius, pray to God for us.
“Neither the sword, nor fire shall separate me from the love of Christ; and I hold your threats to be like the pratings of children!” thou didst cry out with faith to those who sought to compel thee to sacrifice.
Holy Martyr Eudoxius, pray to God for us.
“I fear that tormenting fire which cannot be quenched, and I desire life which cannot be taken away!” thou didst cry out to the tormentor, O Eudoxius. Behold, O thou that woundest my body, I shall not serve thine idols!
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
“The gods whom thou dost worship are gold and silver. They have mouths, but speak not; ears have they, yet hear not; legs they have, but cannot walk. But my God is the Creator of all!” thou didst exclaim.
Now & ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
By thy prayers may we be delivered from grievous transgressions, O pure Theotokos, and may we acquire the radiance of the Son of God Who was ineffably incarnate of thee, O all-holy one.
Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit; now & ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Sessional Hymn, Tone VIII, Spec. Mel. “Of the Wisdom…”: Having amassed heavenly riches, thou didst scatter them, offering them to the poor; and thy bread didst thou give unto the hungry. Wherefore, having acquired incorruptible life, thou didst shine forth in thy confession of Christ. Therefore, taking courage and suffering lawfully, thou hast received from God a crown for thy labors, O passion-bearer Eudoxius. Entreat Christ God, that He grant remission of sins unto those who with love honor thy holy memory.
Ode VII, Irmos: Once, in Babylon, the youths who had come forth from Judæa trod down the flame of the furnace with their faith in the Trinity, chanting: O God of our fathers, blessed art Thou!
Holy Martyr Eudoxius, pray to God for us.
Emulating the patience of the three youths, O most wise Eudoxius, thou didst not bend thy knee to the false image, but didst cry aloud with fervent faith: O God of our fathers, blessed art Thou!
Holy Martyr Eudoxius, pray to God for us.
Acquiring the invincible aid of grace, O martyr Eudoxius, thou didst firmly cast down the legions of the enemy, and having vanquished them thou didst cry aloud: O God of our fathers, blessed art Thou!
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Aflame with the love of divine desire, O martyr Eudoxius, thou didst openly abominate transitory attachments, and, receiving thy reward, thou didst cry out: O God of our fathers, blessed art Thou!
Now & ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Our all-good God, wishing to restore him who had fallen through deception, is incarnate and born of the Virgin and doth deify mankind.
Ode VIII, Irmos: Madly did the Chaldæan tyrant heat the furnace sevenfold for the pious ones; but, beholding them saved by a higher Power, he cried out to the Creator and Deliverer: Ye children, bless; ye priests, hymn; ye people, exalt Him supremely for all ages!
Holy Martyr Eudoxius, pray to God for us.
Thou didst sail across an abyss of wounds and didst attain unto the harbor of life, O Eudoxius; and, receiving a crown of patience, with the angels thou dost unceasingly cry: Ye children, bless; ye priests, hymn; ye people, exalt Him supremely for all ages!
Holy Martyr Eudoxius, pray to God for us.
To a place of rest hath Christ brought thee out who passed through fire and water, O blessed one; and rejoicing therein with the angels, O wise martyr, unceasingly thou dost chant a hymn to the Trinity: Ye children, bless; ye priests, hymn; ye people, exalt Him supremely for all ages!
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Thou didst destroy the noetic serpent with the help of the King of heaven, O glorious one; and receiving a crown of victory and patience, unceasingly thou dost cry out with the immaterial ones: Ye children, bless; ye priests, hymn; ye people, exalt Him supremely for all ages!
Now & ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
The thrice-radiant Godhead which shineth forth in a single ray with one nature in three Hypostases: the unoriginate Father, the Word of one essence with the Father, and the consubstantial Spirit Who reigneth with them, ye children, bless; ye priests, hymn; ye people, exalt supremely for all ages!
Ode IX, Irmos: Heaven was stricken with awe, and the ends of the earth were amazed, that God hath appeared in the flesh, and that thy womb became more spacious than the heavens. Wherefore, the ranks of men and angels magnify thee as the Theotokos.
Holy Martyr Eudoxius, pray to God for us.
The armies of the angels were stricken with awe, and the assemblies of men were amazed that while possessing a corruptible and transitory nature thou didst show the demons to be wretched and weak; and with faith thou didst cry out: I shall serve the Trinity! Holy art Thou, O my Glory!
Holy Martyr Eudoxius, pray to God for us.
Blessed art thou, O martyr Eudoxius, and glorified for all generations, for in nowise sparing thy flesh, thou didst endure torments for Christ’s sake and didst not worship graven images. Wherefore, the ranks of angels, clothed in the raiment of incorruption, have crowned thee.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
By thy prayers unto God, O martyr Eudoxius, do thou rescue from every attack of the enemy those who with faith keep the memory of thy sufferings, that he may not boast over us; for, as a martyr, this thou art able to do, having received a reward for thy sufferings from the Most High.
Now & ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
O Virgin Mother of God, thou art revealed as her who gave birth in the flesh unto God the Word, to Whom the Father, in that He is good, gave utterance from His own heart before all the ages, and Who is now known to be higher than all bodies, even though He hath clothed Himself in a body.