The Holy Martyrs Eudoxius, Zeno, Macarius, and their Companions
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Life
Eudoxius was a commander in the Roman imperial army who, with a great company of soldiers, was martyred at Melitene in Armenia during the persecutions that followed Diocletian. With him suffered his friend Zeno, his household steward Macarius, and, by the count preserved in the synaxarion, 1,104 fellow soldiers whom he had brought to the Christian faith.
Their commemoration belongs to the wave of military martyrdoms in the eastern provinces under the emperor Maximian Galerius, when soldiers were required to sacrifice to the idols or die. The account turns on Eudoxius's quiet acceptance of his death and the solidarity of the soldiers who confessed Christ with him.
Timeline 4 moments
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early 4th centuryEdict against the ChristiansAn imperial edict required Christians who would not sacrifice to the idols to be put to death. Eudoxius, a Christian commander, resigned his office.
early 4th centuryFlight to MeliteneWith his wife Basilissa and his household, Eudoxius abandoned his property and withdrew into the region of Armenian Melitene to avoid the persecution.
early 4th centurySurrender and trialWhen soldiers came searching, Eudoxius lodged them as guests and revealed himself the next morning. Before the governor he refused to sacrifice and cast his military belt in the governor's face.
early 4th centuryMartyrdomAfter torture Eudoxius was beheaded. Zeno openly confessed Christ and was executed, and the steward Macarius likewise confessed and was beheaded, together with the soldiers who had renounced their belts.
Contributions & Legacy
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A Commander and His Soldiers
Eudoxius held the rank of commander in the Roman imperial army and suffered for Christ in the persecution that followed Diocletian, under the emperor Maximian Galerius. He was a Christian, as were his friend Zeno and his household steward Macarius. When the edict went out that those who refused to sacrifice to the idols were to be put to death, Eudoxius gave up his high position, and with his wife Basilissa and his whole household abandoned his property and went into hiding in the region of Armenian Melitene.
When soldiers were sent to find him, the saint received them into his house as guests and lodged them; in the morning he disclosed that he was the man they were seeking. He told his wife not to weep but to keep the day of his martyrdom as a feast, then put on his military dress and went with the soldiers to the governor.
Confession and Martyrdom
Pressed by the governor of Melitene to sacrifice to the idols, Eudoxius firmly refused and denounced the folly of worshipping soulless images. As he removed his military belt - the mark of his rank - he threw it in the governor's face, and more than a thousand secret Christian soldiers present did the same, casting off their belts in open confession. After being tortured, Eudoxius was beheaded.
His friend Zeno then declared himself a Christian and was at once sentenced to death. The steward Macarius, made aware through a vision Eudoxius had granted to his wife, likewise confessed the faith and was beheaded. By the count preserved in the synaxarion the soldiers martyred with them numbered 1,104. Their feast is kept on September 6.
His companions & kin
Wife of Eudoxius, who by his charge kept the day of his martyrdom as a feast rather than a day of mourning.
