Martyr Eupsychius (+362)

The holy Martyr Eupsychius (+362) was born in Caesarea of Cappadocia; his parents brought him up as a Christian. In the time of the Emperor Julian the Apostate (361–363) there was in Caesarea a temple of the pagan goddess Fortuna, which Julian held in great honour. Saint Eupsychius gathered the people and wrecked the temple. The saint knew that he would not escape punishment for this deed; he gave away all his property to the poor and prepared for a martyr’s end.

The enraged emperor brought his wrath down on the whole city: he had part of the population killed, exiled the prominent citizens, conscripted the clergy into military service, and plundered the churches. He even took away the city’s name, Caesarea (that is, the royal city), and turned it into a mere village under its old name, Mazaca. He laid a heavy tribute on the inhabitants. The emperor ordered that he would destroy the city completely if the inhabitants did not build a new temple in place of the one destroyed.

By Julian’s order they tried for a long time to bend Saint Eupsychius to idol-worship, but in vain. After long torture he was beheaded (+362).

After the death of Julian the Apostate the Christians built a church over the tomb of Saint Eupsychius.