Saint Eusignios
Date of celebration: 05/08
Agios Eusignios was born in Antioch and was a soldier for a full sixty years. He enlisted during the reign of Constans Chloros, father of Constantine the Great. He lived for many years and reached the reign of Julian the Transgressor.
When this king once arrived in Antioch, he asked to be seen by an old soldier who was 110 years old! Julian out of curiosity received him, and was astonished to see the old soldier of so many years keeping his body unstretched. He ordered and was treated as best as possible. But Eusignius was not satisfied with these treatments of Julian and declared to him that he was a Christian and that he was vainly trying to revive a corpse, as is idolatry. And finally, to stop persecuting Christ.
When Julian heard this, he was enraged and immediately ordered that he be beheaded. Then Eusignius, full of joy, said: “Thank you, king. Death honored me on the battlefield, to find me now and strike me down for Christ’s sake. Such an end is worthy of a Christian soldier, and I glorify the Most High who has been pleased to reserve me for such an end.”
Thus Eusignios received the honorable death of martyrdom by beheading in 362 AD.
