Saint Euphemia the All-praised, Great Martyr
Great Martyr of Chalcedon
- Feast day
- September 16
- Lived
- d. 303
- Patronage
- Doctrinal truth, Chalcedon
Saint Euphemia is remembered not only for her martyrdom under Diocletian but for the extraordinary miracle at the Fourth Ecumenical Council, which met in the church built over her tomb.
Martyrdom
A young Christian woman of Chalcedon, Euphemia was arrested with forty-nine others for refusing to sacrifice to Ares. Tortured on the wheel and thrown to wild animals in the arena, she was finally killed by a bear in 303.
The Council of Chalcedon
In 451 the Fourth Ecumenical Council met in her basilica, deadlocked between the Orthodox and the Monophysite parties. Both sides wrote their confession of faith on a scroll and placed the two scrolls in her reliquary, which was sealed.
When it was opened three days later, the Orthodox confession was in her right hand and the other lay at her feet. The Church commemorates the miracle on July 11, distinct from her martyrdom on September 16.
When Saint Euphemia the All-praised is commemorated
The feast falls on September 16 on the Revised Julian (New) calendar used by most Greek, Antiochian and Romanian parishes. Parishes that keep the Julian (Old) calendar — much of the Russian, Serbian and Georgian Churches, and Mount Athos — celebrate it on the civil date September 29, thirteen days later. You can switch between both reckonings anywhere on this site.
See the full liturgical day for September 16, 2027
That page gives the fasting rule in force, the Epistle and Gospel appointed for the day, and every other saint commemorated alongside Saint Euphemia the All-praised. To keep the feast, look for a parish in the USA, Canada or Australia directory, and read the Akathist hymns appointed for private prayer.