Orate pro nobis.
Saints Eulampius and Eulampia are venerated as early 4th c. AD Christian martyrs. According to tradition, they were brother and sister, and natives of Nicomedia who were executed during the reign of Roman emperor Maximian.
According to tradition, after reading the decree of the emperor Maximian (AD 284-305, 306-308, 310) sentencing all Christians to execution, Eulampius was horrified that the emperor was taking up arms against his own subjects rather than fighting the enemies of his country. Rather than going into hiding with many other Christians, Eulampius was arrested by the Roman authorities after buying supplies for Christians who were hiding in caves on the outskirts of Nicomedia.
The youth was brought to trial and commanded to renounce the Christian Faith. When he refused, they first raked him with iron hooks, and then placed him upon a red-hot bed of coals. All of a sudden the sufferer expressed a wish to visit the pagan temple. The judges were delighted, supposing that they had turned him from Christianity. In the pagan temple of Mars the saint approached the idol and cried out, “In the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ I command you to fall to the floor and crumble into dust!” The idol immediately crashed down to the floor and was destroyed.
After Eulampius was then whipped, his sister Eulampia was arrested after she identified herself by emerging from a crowd to embrace and comfort him.
The people exclaimed, “The Supreme God is the Christian God, Who is great and mighty!” Saint Eulampius was again taken away for torture. This time his sister, Eulampia, appeared before the judges and declared that she also was a Christian. Eulampius told her, “Sister, do not fear those who kill the body but are unable to kill the soul” (Mt.10:28).
The martyrs were tortured and thrown into a red-hot furnace, but the Lord protected them from the fire. Finally, they beheaded Eulampius, but Eulampia died from her torments before she could be beheaded.
Two hundred observers of their trials and torments were converted to Christ after seeing the miracles of Saint Eulampius and Saint Eulampia as they were being tortured. They were also put to death and received the crown of martyrdom.
Almighty God, who gave to your servants Eulampius, Eulampia, and Companions boldness to confess the Name of our Savior Jesus Christ before the rulers of this world, and courage to die for this faith: Grant that we may always be ready to give a reason for the hope that is in us, and to suffer gladly for the sake of our Lord Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever.
Amen.
