10/10/2026 – Життя Святих / Lives of the Saints
Свв. мчч. Євлампія і Євлампії
Martyrs Eulampius and Eulampia, at Nicomedia, and 200 Martyrs with them
The Synaxarion (Lives of the Saints):
The Holy Martyrs Eulampius and Eulampia were brother and sister who lived in the city of Nicomedia at the beginning of the fourth century, during a time of severe persecution of Christians.
The Emperor Maximian had ordered that Christians throughout the empire be arrested and put to death. When the young Eulampius learned about the emperor’s decree, he was deeply troubled. He could not understand how a ruler could turn against his own people simply because they believed in Christ.
Because of his Christian faith, Eulampius was brought before the authorities and ordered to renounce Christ. The young man refused.
The judges tried to frighten him into giving up his faith. He was tortured with iron hooks and then placed upon a bed of burning coals. Yet Eulampius remained faithful and would not deny the Lord.
Then something unexpected happened.
Eulampius asked to be taken to the pagan temple. The judges were pleased. They thought that the suffering had broken his courage and that he was finally ready to abandon Christianity.
They took him to the temple of the pagan god Mars.
But Eulampius had no intention of worshiping the idol.
He approached the statue and, in the name of Jesus Christ, commanded it to fall to the ground and be destroyed.
Immediately, the idol collapsed and was reduced to pieces.
Those who witnessed the miracle were astonished. Many of the people recognized that the power of the Christian God was greater than the power of the idols they had worshiped.
They cried out: “The Supreme God is the Christian God, Who is great and mighty!”
Eulampius was taken away again and subjected to further torture.
At that moment, his sister Eulampia came before the judges. She openly declared that she too was a Christian and that she believed in Jesus Christ.
The authorities tried to frighten her, but she was not afraid.
Eulampius encouraged his sister with the words of Christ: “Do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul.”
These words from the Gospel remind us that there are things in this world that can be taken away from us, but the human soul belongs to God. Physical suffering and even death cannot destroy the eternal life that Christ gives to those who remain faithful to Him.
The brother and sister were then tortured together. Finally, they were thrown into a burning furnace.
But God protected them, and the fire did not harm them.
Their courage and the miracles that took place before the eyes of the people had a powerful effect. Two hundred people who witnessed the suffering of Eulampius and Eulampia believed in Christ.
These new Christians were also arrested and put to death for their faith. They too received the crown of martyrdom.
In the end, Saint Eulampius was beheaded. Saint Eulampia died from the sufferings she had endured before the execution could take place.
The Church remembers these two martyrs not simply because they suffered, but because they remained faithful to Christ when their faith was tested.
Eulampius was troubled when he saw Christians being persecuted. He could have remained silent and tried to protect himself. Instead, he openly confessed his faith.
His sister Eulampia did the same. When she saw her brother suffering, she did not run away. She came forward and declared that she also belonged to Christ.
Their story shows us that courage can inspire courage in others. One person’s faithful witness can give another person the strength to stand firm.
The words of Jesus that Eulampius spoke to his sister are also important for us: “Do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul.”
We all experience different kinds of fear. We may fear rejection, failure, losing our possessions, what other people think of us, or what the future may bring.
The martyrs remind us that our deepest security cannot be found in this world. Everything earthly is temporary. Our true life is in Christ.
Saints Eulampius and Eulampia also remind us that faith is not something we keep only for ourselves. When we live our faith with courage, patience, and love, our example can touch the lives of others.
May the Holy Martyrs Eulampius and Eulampia pray for us, that we may have courage in times of difficulty, strength when our faith is tested, and trust in the Lord who has power over both life and death.
May we never be ashamed to belong to Christ, and may our lives become a faithful witness to His love.