March 16 / March 3
1. The Holy Martyrs Eutropius and Cleonicus of Amasea, and Basiliscus of Comana (308)
They were companions of St. Theodore the Tyro. When the righteous Theodore had gloriously reposed, they remained behind in prison. For a long time, they were not sentenced, due to the replacement of the emperor’s governor in the city of Amasea. When the new governor arrived, more inhuman than his predecessor, he ordered that these three be brought before him. All three were youths. Eutropius and Cleonicus were brothers, and Basiliscus was a kinsman of St. Theodore. All three were like blood brothers in their fraternal love. As such, they said before the governor: “As the Holy Trinity is undivided, so also are we undivided in our faith and inseparable in our love.” In vain was all the flattery on the part of the governor, and in vain were his attempts to bribe Eutropius. First of all, the governor invited Eutropius to dine with him. Eutropius refused, quoting from the Psalms: Blessed is the man who follows not the counsel of the wicked (Psalm 1:1). After that, the governor offered him a large amount of money—150 liters of silver—which Eutropius also refused, reminding the governor that because of silver Judas lost his soul. After all attempts at inter- rogation and torture had failed, the first two were sentenced to be crucified, and Basiliscus was sentenced to be beheaded. And so it was, two brothers were crucified on two crosses, for which they gave thanks to Christ that He had made them worthy of the same death to which He Himself submitted. The third, Basiliscus, was beheaded. They all entered the Kingdom of Joy where St. Theodore, their commander, awaited them, having been glorified before them by Christ the Lord and Victor. They suffered honorably in the year 308.
2. Saint Piama the Egyptian, Virgin (337)
For the sake of Christ, Piama did not wish to marry; she dedicated herself to a life of asceticism in the home of her mother. She ate very little food, and that only every other day. She spent most of her time in prayer and contemplation. Piama possessed the gift of clairvoyance. She died peacefully, wedding her soul to the Lord, in about the year 377.
3. The Unknown Maiden
Coming from a wealthy home in Alexandria, she had a good father who suffered much and had a difficult death, and an evil mother who had an easy life died peacefully and was buried with honor. Perplexed as to whether she should live according to the example of her father or her mother, this maiden had a vision that revealed to her the conditions of both her parents in the other world. She saw her father in the Kingdom of God and her mother in darkness and in torment. This vision helped the maiden to decide that she would dedicate her whole life to God. Like her father, she would adhere to the commandments of God, without considering all the adversities and the misfortunes which she would have to endure. She was faithful to the will of God to the end and, with the help of God, was made worthy of the Kingdom of Heaven, where she was reunited with her God-loving father.
- Martyr Hemetherius of Spain (ca. 298).
- Alexandra of Alexandria (4th c.).
- Winwaloe, abbot of Landevennec, Brittany (ca. 530).
- Caluppan of Auvergne (Gaul) (576).
- Non, mother of St. David of Wales (6th c.).
- John IV (Chrysostom), catholicos of Georgia (1001).
- (Greek : Hieromartyr Theodoretus, priest, of Antioch [361-363]).
- Volokolamsk Icon of the Most Holy Theotokos (1572).
HYMN OF PRAISE
Saints Eutropius, Cleonicus and Basiliscus
The mind at peace and raised to God the Most High,
The heart inflamed with love toward Him,
These do not care about pains or worry about the body:
Over such as these, only the Lord rules.
The mind fixed on Christ—that is most important.
St. Eutropius recognized this during his torments;
And Cleonicus his brother and beloved Basiliscus—
All three were in the fire as though in the morning dew.
A mind fixed on Christ does not care about tortures.
If pain persists, so also does prayer.
The mind fixed on Christ does not think about pain, but weaves prayer.
He who fears God does not fear pain.
Two blood brothers raised upon the Cross:
Their bodies convulse, but the spirit does not stir.
Both glorify God Who glorified them;
Such an honorable death He gave unto them.
The garment of the flesh is rent and removed
And the spirit races toward heaven.
The spirit is stronger than the body.
“Receive, O God,” they cry out, “our spirits in the heights,
To Thee be eternal glory, O Son of God!”
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