Synaxarion of the Holy Martyr Eustathios of Ancyra

St. Eustathios of Ancyra (Feast day - July 28)

Verses

The all-blessed was delivered from the river by an Angel,
And expired in the hands of the Angel that saved him.

He was a soldier, who was brought before the Governor of Ancyra named Cornelius, was questioned by him, and boldly confessing the glorious economy of our Lord Jesus Christ, he was harshly beaten. They then pierced his ankles, and tying them with ropes, he was dragged into the city of Ancyra, up to the Sagaris River. The governor followed from behind and observed. There they placed the Saint in a chest and cast him into the river. An Angel of the Lord stopped this, removing the chest and placing it on solid ground. The Saint was found there to be unharmed, chanting: "He that dwells in the help of the Highest, shall sojourn under the shelter of the God of heaven" (Ps. 91:1).

When the governor heard about this he was put to shame. Unable to endure the shame, he pulled out his knife and killed himself. The Martyr prayed, and communed of the divine Mysteries by means of a dove, which came down to him from the heavens. Thanking God, he delivered his soul into the hands of the Angel that had rescued him from the river, and in this way the blessed one received the unfading crown of the contest. His holy relic was buried in the city of Ancyra.