They were martyred during the cruel persecution of Christians under Diocletian. Eustratios, who was a senior officer, was captured by Duke Lysias. He, after torturing him in the most horrible manner, then sent him to the prefect Agricola.
Famous for his brutality towards the Christians, he made Eustratius march in iron shoes, which had pointed nails in them. Then he fashioned it, after throwing it into the fire.
Auxentius, who was a priest and fellow citizen of Efstratius, the ruler forced him to convert with many tempting promises. But the worthy minister of Christ answered: “There is no need for me to say many words, Lysias. In this life I am Christ’s and I will be His until death. And if you give me innumerable wounds and wounds, and if you melt me with fire and iron, my Christ is all-powerful and His Cross irresistible. Auxentius himself is weak. But you will never bend the mind of the Christian Auxentios”. Enraged by the answer, the ruler immediately beheaded him.
Mardarius, after piercing his ankles, hung him upside down and burned him.
Officer Eugene, after having his tongue and hands cut off and his legs broken, expired.
And the soldier Orestes was killed, after he was laid on an incandescent bed.
