In the IV century, during the reign of Emperor Constantine the Great, the light of Christianity, which became the official state religion, shone on the expanses of the Roman Empire and its subservient states. But this triumph of true faith was preceded by a long and difficult journey, watered with the blood of the sufferers who had given their lives for it. One of them was the holy martyr Eugene, about whom our story will go.
Emperor is the evil persecutor of Christ's faith
At the very beginning of the 4th century, the pagan emperor Diocletian ruled in the East, who went down in history as one of the most cruel and unyielding persecutors of Christians. A fanatical adherent of idolatry, he tried with all his might to revive paganism, which was dying by then. One of the stages of his struggle with the true faith was a decree issued by him in 302.
On the basis of this divine document, all the rulers of the cities were obliged to destroy Christian churches located in their territories, and those who refused to worship idols should be deprived of all civil rights and put on trial. Many of the victims of this wicked emperor will go down in the history of the church as Orthodox saints who became martyrs who shed their blood for Christ.
Toughening barbarian laws
However, turning the tide of history was impossible, and soon Diocletian became convinced of the futility of his efforts. Deprived of their temples and not frightened by the threats of the court, adherents of the new faith gathered for prayers and services in caves, remote groves and other secluded places. Then a new, more cruel decree followed. He prescribed to use all measures to induce Christians to paganism, and to rebell those who disobedient with fierce death.
Friends in life and brothers in Christ
It was during these difficult years for Christians that the great martyr Eugene glorified the Lord with his deed. The saint lived in the city of Satalion and was a close friend of the commander of the city army, whose name was Eustratius. Both of them were from the city of Aravrakin, belonged to the number of Christians and secretly from the supreme ruler participated in worship and the performance of all Christian rites. Ever since the last decree of the emperor came out, their life was constantly in danger, especially since among the large number of dark and ignorant residents of the city, the struggle with the Christian faith met with support and approval.
Arrest and imprisonment of an Armenian priest
It so happened that the presbyter of the Armenian church Auxentius, who was also glorified in the face of saints , was soon captured and delivered to Satalion . He fell into the hands of a cruel and fanatical pagan - the regional ruler Lysius. He was an ardent hater of Christians and a blind executor of imperial will. No one had any doubts that the fate of the Armenian presbyter was a foregone conclusion.
Eustratius and his friend Eugene immediately learned about the imminent trial of the minister of God’s church. Saint Auxentius, being in the prison, did not stop praying to God for all those who were destined to receive martyrdom in the name of the Lord. Both friends, hastening to him, asked to remember their names in prayers, so that the Almighty would send them, simple and humble people, the strength to glorify His Name with his death.
Prayer in the darkness of the dungeon
In a gloomy stone dungeon, among the moans of prisoners and the ringing of chains, the words of the prayer of an Armenian presbyter, doomed to an unrighteous judgment of the Gentiles, but ready to appear before the Court of the Creator of the universe, ascended to Heaven. He asked for the gift of power to all those who, like him, want to glorify the name of the Lord with their torment and death.
His words were heard, and as a testimony of the grace of God that came upon them, they felt a surge of courage in their hearts Eustratius and Eugene. The Holy Spirit overshadowed them and gave them strength beyond which there is nothing in this perishable world. From the suffocating darkness of the dungeon, they began their journey to Eternal Life.
The unrighteous judgment of the evil heathen
The next day, in the presence of all the city nobility and military commanders, the imperial governor and supreme ruler of the city Lysy began the trial of presbyter Auxentius and those who were with him. These were people who, like their spiritual father, refused to exchange divine teaching for life. Inevitable death awaited them all, but at first Lysias tried to create at least some semblance of justice and therefore wished to hear the opinions of those present.
Judicial speeches of Eustratius and Eugene
Undoubtedly, he believed that only condemnations would be heard at the address of Christians. However, everything turned out differently. The first in front of him and the whole composition of the court was Eustratius, since he commanded the city army, and, by rank, it was he who was supposed to have the first word. To the great amazement of the ruler, he not only did not blaspheme the defendants, but, accompanying his words with convincing arguments, managed to deliver a brilliant speech in defense of Christianity, and in the end openly and boldly declared his belonging to this doctrine.
Struck by what he heard, Lysy was literally numb, but the next minute, having regained consciousness, he furiously ordered him to deprive the impudent military commander of all his ranks and posts, and to put him to death. Before the people who were present at this scene managed to cope with the fear that gripped them, Evgeni stepped forward. The saint, echoing the words of his friend Eustratius, declared Christianity the only true and true religion, and recognized himself as its follower. Needless to say, the anger of the ruler fell upon him with all his might. Here Eugene was chained up and taken to the same dungeon, where the day before he and his friend had asked Saint Auxentius to pray.
The path to the place of execution
In the early morning they were taken out of the gates of the fortress, in the cellars of which Christians were kept, who refused to worship idols even under pain of death, and led to the city of Nikopol, where with a large crowd of people executions were carried out. The path of this sad procession ran through Aravrakin - the hometown of convicted friends. Here they were well remembered and loved for their kindness and humanity.
When Eustratius and Eugene, bending under the blows of the scourges of the overseers, walked along its streets, many of the gathered people recognized them, but did not give a look, afraid to incur trouble. The exception was only one brave and courageous man named Mardarius. He also professed Christianity and could not calmly look at the shackles of his brothers in faith.
Having said goodbye to his family and entrusting the care of her to pious neighbors - secret Christians, he voluntarily followed his brothers in Christ. In the city of Nikopol, after much torment, they all accepted death. Over time, they were all canonized and today are known as Orthodox saints. The Orthodox Church honors their memory. The day of St. Eugene and those who suffered with him for the faith is celebrated annually on December 26 according to a new style.
Memory of the holy martyr
Today in Russia, among all the saints of God who have dedicated their earthly lives to the service of the Lord, the holy martyr Eugene is honored. In Novosibirsk, at the Cathedral of Archangel Michael, there is a monastery named after him. In the same city in 1995 the church of St. Eugene was opened. Built near the Zaeltsovsky cemetery, it is considered one of the most beautiful in Novosibirsk.
The author of the project for the building of this spiritual center is the architect I. I. Rudenko, who embodied the poetry of Russian Orthodox antiquity in its outlines. The temple has the status of the courtyard of the Intercession Monastery (v. Zavyalovo), one of the heavenly patrons of which is St. Eugene. His icon takes pride of place in the monastery church.
The holy great martyr, who was not afraid of an unjust judge to openly acknowledge himself a Christian and suffered suffering and death for this, comes to the aid of all who turn to him with faith and hope. Prayer to St. Eugene helps people in all hardships of life, regardless of whether a person who received the same name at holy baptism, or who was called otherwise, seeks help. Even if prayer is first offered before his holy image, it will be heard if it comes from the heart.